The Montreal Canadiens have had terrible luck with backup goaltenders for the past few years.
Al Montoya filled in admirably behind Carey Price in 2016-17, but didn’t look so good to start the following year. After just four games he was replaced by Charlie Lindgren who was not great and Antti Niemi who actually finished the season quite well.
It was the following year that things caught up to Niemi. He struggled mightily out of the gate and the Habs were left scrambling for a second option in goal.