Glenview Native Montoya Shines in Goal for NHL's Islanders

Despite losing in overtime, 3-2, to his hometown Chicago Blackhawks last night, Glenview native Al Montoya is quickly drawing attention among those who follow the National Hockey League (NHL).

Patrick Sharp ripped the game-winning shot past the stick side of Montoya in OT last evening, for his second goal of the game, as the Hawks downed the New York Islanders for the second time in less than a week. 

Even though he's had a pair of mild setbacks against Chicago, which gave New York two points in the standings, Montoya has been starting in goal quite a bit for the Islanders recently. Best of all, he's had a great deal of success while doing so.

According to a Dec.8 article on the Newyorkislanders.com website, by Dyan LeBourdais, the team has rallied around Montoya.

"Al was great for us again,” New York defenseman Steve Staios said of Montoya for the website. “We did our best to limit their (Chicago's) opportunities and keep them to the outside, but he still had to make some big saves for us."

Islanders Head coach Jack Capuano also agreed, when he spoke with LeBourdais, on Newyorkislanders.com.

“I thought both sides, the defense played well tonight … Their 'D' (Chicago's) are great in transition, they get up the ice, they beat us up the ice a few times and Al (Montoya) was there to shut the door for us,” Capuano said.

Some solid statistics

Out of the four goaltenders the Islanders have used this season, Montoya has been called upon the most - and been the best of the group - hands down.

Montoya has started a team-high 11 games in net, played in 13, and has a 5-3-3 record overall. He also has an outstanding 2.14 goals against average, and has stopped 93 percent of the shots he's faced.

Not bad for an Islanders team that is currently in last place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division with 24 points.

Montoya has also started in five of the last six games for New York, and during that time, the Islanders haven't lost a game in regulation (4-0-2), despite being in last place. He was the sixth overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft.

Additional facts about Montoya

• Was traded to the Islanders by the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for New York's sixth round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
• His save percentage (93.0) currently ranks eighth best in the entire league.
• Played in five games with Phoenix in 2008-09, posting a 3-1-0 record, before appearing in 20 games with the Islanders last season, where he went 9-5-1 with a 2.39 GAA.
• Has yet to appear in an NHL playoff game.
• Wears #35, and is listed at 6-foot-2 and 203 lbs
• Born Feb. 13, 1985