Montoya gets early call in net for Oilers

DALLAS — It wasn’t the way Al Montoya wanted to make his Edmonton Oilers debut, coming in to mop up midway through a crushing defeat.

Of course, the way the Oilers have been going lately, it probably shouldn’t have come as any great surprise.

If you’re playing for the Oilers these days, there is a better than average chance you’re going to be involved in a crushing defeat.

So, ready or not, there he was Saturday afternoon in Dallas, beginning the latest chapter in his NHL career against the backdrop of a 5-1 loss to the Stars.

“It’s tough,”said the 32-yearold reliever, who came over from the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday for a conditional fourth-round draft pick.“But it’s my job. That’s the first hat you throw on; you go in there and try to calm things down and give the team a chance.”

By the time Montoya made it to the crease, it was already 4-0 and Dallas had pretty much called off the dogs. He faced one shot over the final 15 minutes of the second period and allowed one goal on 13 shots in the third.

While everyone else in the room felt pretty devastated afterward, Montoya, playing his first game since a concussion sidelined him in the first week of November, couldn’t hide the smile.

“For myself, it’s fun to be playing hockey again. I’m just happy to be back.”

Prior to Saturday, Montoya’s last game was Nov. 4 in Winnipeg, the night Dustin Byfuglien hit him square in the face with a slap shot late in the third period.

It took a long time to shake the damage, but now that he has he is looking forward to the fresh start in Edmonton.

“It was quick,” he said of the trade. “But I look at it as another opportunity. I know I have a lot to give and I’m excited.

“It was a long road back. I haven’t had much time to skate, but I feel good, which goes a long way. I was excited to get back in there and start playing hockey again. It was a tough outcome, but for myself it was a big plus.”