We now know the real reason behind Martin St-Louis' decision to name Jake Allen as the starting goalie
Although he made big saves in overtime, allowing the CH to stay in the game, Jake Allen struggled against the Leafs last night. Indeed, the 33-year-old veteran let in two bad goals, giving Sheldon Keefe's men a chance to escape with the win.
Moreover, many fans were surprised to learn that it was #34, not Samuel Montembeault, who would be starting the season in net. This decision by Martin St-Louis sparked a lot of debates, as the vast majority of experts expected the Quebecer to unquestionably be the number one goalie this season.
However, during his appearance on TVA Sports, Renaud Lavoie explained the reasoning behind the head coach of the Tricolore's decision. According to him, Jake Allen got the start solely because he has had success against this team in the past, suggesting that Montembeault might still be the go-to guy for the Montreal team this year.
Furthermore, when we look at what happened last year, let's not forget that Jake Allen was extremely solid in the season opener against the Leafs. He has had relative success against this team, with a goals-against average of 2.60 and a save percentage of 0.920. As for Samuel Montembeault, his average is almost 4 goals allowed per game against the Leafs.
When you think about it, it was a pretty simple decision!" - Renaud Lavoie
Do you agree with Renaud Lavoie? Did Martin St-Louis make the right decision to give the first game of the season to Jake Allen?
However, following this performance, it wouldn't be surprising to see Samuel Montembeault in net for the first game of the year at the Bell Centre, which is on Saturday, against the Chicago Blackhawks.
| POLL | ||
If you were in Martin St-Louis' position, who would be your number one goalie this season? | ||
| Samuel Montembeault | 69 | 56.1 % |
| Jake Allen | 13 | 10.6 % |
| Both would share the task | 41 | 33.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
