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Big rumor in Pittsburgh this Thursday: the Canadiens are reportedly preparing the big leap of Jacob Fowler in net.
Everything really became clearer in the last few hours, as several observers on site now expect to see the young goaltender start the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. We’re still talking about rumors; nothing has been officially confirmed by the organization, but the tone has clearly changed since Martin St-Louis’s cautious comments yesterday.
“Canadiens wouldn’t make goalie Jacob Fowler available to the media after practice in Brossard following his call-up from Laval Rocket last night.”
– Stu Cowan
Jacob Fowler at the center of the day
He has a record of 10-5-0, a 2.09 goals-against average, and a .919 save percentage in 15 games in the American League this season, with several shutouts on his resume.
His path is already well mapped within the organization. Drafted 69th overall in 2023, he signed in April a three-year entry-level contract that begins this season and carries a cap hit of about $923,000 per year for the Montreal Canadiens until 2028.
Meanwhile, the circumstances are pushing the Canadiens to shake things up. The team has a 15-11-3 record, is allowing an average of 3.55 goals per game, and just suffered a harsh 6-1 loss in Tampa Bay.
“Just landed in Pittsburgh, where I fully expect to see Jacob Fowler make his NHL debut vs. the Penguins.”
– Eric Engels
Even though the offense is producing 3.14 goals per game with a power play at 25.6 percent, one of the best in the league, the penalty kill at 77.2 percent remains fragile. On Tuesday, the club called up three prospects at once-Fowler, Owen Beck, and Adam Engstrom-a real message sent to the rest of the locker room after that defeat.
Everything suggests that the two announcements expected today will specifically concern the confirmation of the starting goaltender and the reveal of the full lineup, with those rookies inserted into the formation in Pittsburgh.
Another small detail that has people talking: Fowler will officially wear number 32 with the big club, a choice he has already stood by publicly by refusing to wear Carey Price’s number 31. It will therefore possibly be number 32 that fans see for the first time in a regular-season NHL game, if he gets the start tonight.
Let’s recall that he has not yet played a single NHL game in his career. If the Canadiens entrust him with the net against the Pittsburgh Penguins, this first test would come in a hostile arena, against a team with a 14-7-7 record and a power play above 30 percent.
A true night of big-league beginnings, if they materialize. And you-do you see this possible decision as a necessary roll of the dice or as a needless risk in the race for points?
The puck will drop at 7 p.m., but the verdict on Jacob Fowler may play out in people’s minds long before the official announcement.
Previously on All Montreal Hockey