When the Montreal Canadiens made a mid-season change behind the bench, it made some noise. Goalie coach Eric Raymond was relieved of his duties on Jan. 28, and Marco Marciano was brought in to stabilize a position that had been anything but steady all season. Coaching changes usually take time to translate into results on the ice, especially for goaltenders. Yet, in Marciano’s case, the early signs are hard to ignore.
A Necessary Change Behind the Bench
The timing of the move spoke volumes. Montreal had been struggling to get consistent goaltending performances, and with the playoff race tightening in the Atlantic Division, the margin for error was shrinking quickly. The organization clearly felt that a reset was needed. Marciano arrived with a reputation as a detail-oriented coach, known for his technical approach and ability to build confidence in young goaltenders.
Replacing a goalie coach in the middle of the season is never ideal. It disrupts routines and forces netminders to adapt on the fly. But in Montreal’s case, the urgency of the situation outweighed the risks. The Canadiens needed stability, not just in saves made, but in how calm and composed their goalies looked when games tightened up.
The Impact in Numbers
While it’s still a small sample size, the numbers since Marciano’s arrival are encouraging. In the four games following the coaching change, the Canadiens picked up points in all of them, winning three of those contests. Even more telling is the defensive output; Montreal allowed just 10 goals against during that stretch.
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That number matters. Earlier in the season, the Canadiens were too often chasing games after early goals against, forcing them to open things up offensively and exposing their defense even more. Since Marciano stepped in, games have felt more controlled. Pucks are being absorbed instead of kicked out into dangerous areas, and rebounds are being managed more effectively.
Goaltending alone doesn’t explain team success, but when your netminders are keeping you in games, everything else falls into place. Defensive pairings play with more confidence, forwards commit more fully to their assignments, and the bench feels calmer when momentum swings.
Confidence Returning Between the Pipes
Perhaps the biggest early takeaway has been how the goalies look, not just what the stat sheet says. Jakub Dobes looked composed and solid in his three starts. His positioning was sound, his movements were more controlled, and he didn’t appear rattled after goals against. That’s not something you can teach overnight, but it often reflects clear communication and trust between goalie and coach.
Samuel Montembeault also benefited from the change. His performance against the Winnipeg Jets stood out as one of his more confident outings in recent weeks. He tracked pucks well through traffic, stayed patient on lateral plays, and looked far more decisive in his crease. Those are small details, but they’re often the difference between a save and a goal at the NHL level.
Marciano’s influence seems less about reinventing technique and more about simplifying things. When goalies stop overthinking and focus on structure and reads, their confidence naturally follows. Early on, that appears to be exactly what’s happening in Montreal.
Stability Extends to Laval
The ripple effect of Marciano’s promotion didn’t stop with the Canadiens. Laval also needed a solution to finish the season, and the organization moved quickly by bringing in Ilia Ejov. Ejov had already been around the group, having joined Montreal as an invited coach during development camp. Familiarity matters, especially when working with young goaltenders.
Ejov brings a unique background to the role. A former goaltender himself, he played 13 seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), gaining experience in one of the most technically demanding leagues in the world. More recently, he served as the goalie coach for the Concordia Stingers at the university level, where development and adaptability are key.
That combination of professional experience and teaching ability makes him a logical fit for Laval. With prospects continuing to develop in the system, having continuity in messaging and philosophy between Montreal and Laval is critical. The organization clearly values that alignment.
It’s far too early to declare the problem solved. Four games don’t define a season, and goaltending remains one of the most volatile positions in hockey. Still, the early impact of Marciano has been noticeable both in results and in confidence.
