3 Reasons the Canadiens Goalies Are Playing Better

The Montreal Canadiens hired Marco Marciano on January 28 to replace Eric Raymond as the team’s goalie coach. The reason was clear. The Canadiens’ goalie play has been inconsistent. Without strong goaltending, the Canadiens’ playoff chances might have been limited, even though they’re likely to make the postseason.

Usually, a coaching change takes time to show results. But early returns suggest this was the right move at the right moment.

Since Marciano came, the Canadiens’ goalies have improved their play.

Since Marciano arrived, the Canadiens’ goalies have looked calmer, more decisive, and noticeably sharper. It’s not just a feeling—numbers back it up. Over the first four games following the coaching change, Montreal picked up points in all four, winning three, and allowed just 10 goals. For a team that had been chasing games and overcommitting offensively after early goals against, this is a huge difference. Defensive plays feel cleaner, rebounds are managed better, and the team as a whole can breathe a little easier.

Here are three reasons the goalies are playing better now:

Reason 1: The Canadiens’ goalies have been calm and controlled in their technique.

Jakub Dobes and Samuel Montembeault both show improved positioning and movement. They’re not panicking after goals against or overcommitting on lateral plays. This might look small, but at the NHL level, confidence and control in the crease turn half-saves into full stops and keep the team in games.

Reason 2: The Canadiens’ goalies now have a simplified game plan.

Marciano’s approach isn’t about reinventing how these goalies play. It’s about stripping things down to structure, reads, and instincts. When a goalie stops overthinking and trusts their setup, the nervous energy disappears. Dobes and Montembeault are making quicker, cleaner reads and aren’t getting flustered after a goal or a messy play. You can see them staying in the moment, just handling the game as it comes instead of overthinking every move.

Reason 3: The Canadiens’ goalies have gained confidence through solid communication.

Marciano isn’t just running drills—he’s talking things through. His guidance gives the goalies a clear picture of what’s coming: when to be aggressive, when to hang back, and how to deal with traffic in front of the net. That kind of clarity lets goalies play with confidence, and you can tell it spreads to the rest of the team, too. Defencemen and forwards alike have more confidence to play their game.

The bottom line for the Canadiens.

Four games don’t define a season, but the early impact is clear: Montreal’s goaltending looks more stable, composed, and ready to handle pressure. If Marciano’s influence holds, this could be the tipping point that allows the Canadiens to go deep in the postseason. The goalies are no longer the team’s weak link—they might just be the reason the team keeps surprising.