Jacob Fowler’s start has been so strong that an old Dominik Hasek comparison doesn’t sound nearly as outrageous anymore.
The Montreal Canadiens came home from a four-game road trip with four straight road wins, and Fowler was a huge part of that run. Jakub Dobes got the nod in the final game in Dallas, a 5-2 win over the Stars, but Fowler handled the first three stops on the trip and went 3-0 while giving up just two goals.
His season numbers are eye-catching on their own. Fowler is 6-1 with a .942 save percentage, a 1.54 goals against average and two shutouts. MoneyPuck has him leading the NHL in Goals Saved Above Expected at 10.1, which puts him 1.4 ahead of Minnesota Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt, who sits second at 8.3.
For anyone who has followed Fowler’s rise, though, this kind of start doesn’t feel like a surprise. A prediction from nearly three years ago on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast has started making the rounds again, and after the way Fowler has opened this season, it looks a lot less far-fetched.
Back in January 2024, Ryan Whitney put Fowler in the same conversation as one of the greatest goalies in NHL history. “He's got to be one of the best goalies I've ever seen in college.
I'm talking lights-out saves time after time, including two on ones,” Whitney said. “I am telling you Montreal Canadiens fans, he is unbelievable.
It's like Dominik Hasek in net.”
Fowler’s college résumé backs up why people were so high on him. He spent two seasons at Boston College, appearing in 74 games and posting a 57-13-3 record with a .932 save percentage, a 1.90 goals against average and 10 shutouts.
Now he’s carrying that momentum into the NHL, and he’s already moved ahead of Dobes on the depth chart. Montreal brought him up after Samuel Montembeault was injured in practice, and Fowler has played so well that sending him back to Laval feels unlikely.
That leaves the Canadiens with a tricky decision once Montembeault is ready. Carrying three goalies for a stretch may not be ideal, but right now Montreal’s best chance to win is with Fowler in net. Until that changes, he should stay there.
In Other News...
Canadiens Just Got Pulled Into A Dylan Larkin Roster Watch
The Canadiens have found themselves attached to one of the more intriguing names on the trade market, with Montreal reportedly putting young talent into the conversation around Dylan Larkin. The Red Wings center remains a significant target, and the way the Canadiens are positioning their assets suggests they are at least serious about seeing where this can go. For a club still sorting out its long-term picture, the chance to land a player of Larkins caliber naturally changes the temperature around any discussion.
There is still a major hurdle in the process, though, and it could end up being the one that matters most. Larkin has not yet given Montreal the green light as a destination, even as talks continue and his suspension from Detroit adds another layer to the situation. Sources say the Canadiens could be prepared to build an offer around prospects and draft picks, but for now the real question is whether the sides can get past the approval stage and into something more concrete. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens May Be Getting Boxed Out Of Dylan Larkin Sweepstakes
The Canadiens have been circling the center market for a while, and Dylan Larkin has naturally become one of the more intriguing names to watch. Detroit has suspended him without pay after he refused to play, and the Red Wings are still working through trade discussions with multiple teams, with Montreal believed to be among the clubs at least in the mix. For a Canadiens front office looking to add help down the middle, it is the kind of situation worth monitoring closely.
Still, the path to Montreal does not look especially clean. Larkin has not expanded his preferred destination list, and the Canadiens are not on it, which leaves Montreal waiting on a player who may never view them as a landing spot. With the market for centers already thin and alternatives such as Ryan O'Reilly and Mark Scheifele also in the conversation, the Canadiens may have to decide whether to keep pressing on Larkin or pivot before the rest of the league leaves them behind. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Are Turning This Surprise Surge Into Something Much Bigger
The Canadiens have quietly turned a strong little run into something far more meaningful, winning five of their last six and climbing to second in the Atlantic Division. What makes the stretch stand out is how they have managed it without some important pieces, while also working through earlier power-play issues that could have slowed them down. Instead, Montreal has found ways to keep stacking points, nudging its goal differential to plus-5 and looking more stable by the night.
Jacob Fowler has given the club a lift in goal, and the blue line has done plenty of heavy lifting too, with Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson and Alexandre Carrier all helping steady things. Up front, Cole Caufield has been part of the push as the Canadiens keep finding contributions in different places, which is exactly the kind of depth a team needs when the lineup is not at full strength. The bigger question now is how long this surge can keep rolling, and whether Montreal can keep turning a surprising burst into something that lasts. [Read more 🡒]