The lights of the Bell Centre have barely faded, but a new storm is brewing in Montreal—one that could change everything in a single night. The echoes of a crushing 6-1 defeat still linger in the air, heavy with disappointment and frustration. In the aftermath, as fans shuffle out into the cold and the city’s hockey heartbeat slows to a nervous pulse, a single name begins to ripple through the crowd, whispered with hope and uncertainty: Jacob Fowler.

It’s not just another rumor. This time, the possibility feels electric, almost urgent. Behind the closed doors of the Canadiens’ locker room, the mood is tense. Jakub Dobes and Samuel Montembeault, each battered by Tampa Bay’s relentless attack, sit in silence, their eyes betraying the weight of recent struggles. The numbers are unforgiving—a defense ranked among the worst in the league, a string of losses that threaten to unravel the season, and an average of 3.55 goals allowed per game that has fans and analysts alike searching for answers.

But in the shadows of defeat, a new chapter may be about to begin. Jacob Fowler, the 21-year-old goaltender who has lit up the American League with the Laval Rocket, is suddenly the center of attention. His stats are impressive: a 10-5-0 record, a stingy 2.09 goals-against average, and a .919 save percentage that stands out in a season of uncertainty. For weeks, whispers about his readiness have circulated among insiders, but now, with the Canadiens desperate for stability, the rumor is gaining momentum. An insider close to the team, Marco D’Amico, has already hinted at what could be a seismic shift: “I wouldn’t be surprised if Jacob Fowler starts tomorrow’s game against the Penguins on the road.”

The scenario is almost cinematic. The Canadiens, battered and searching for answers, travel to Pittsburgh to face a competitive team missing one of its stars, Evgeni Malkin. The stage is set for a dramatic debut—a young goaltender stepping into the spotlight, carrying not only the hopes of the team but the expectations of an entire city. Fowler, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing in at 213 pounds, is more than just a fresh face; he’s the symbol of a new era, a calculated investment by Kent Hughes to anchor Montreal’s net for years to come.

As dawn breaks over Montreal, the anticipation is palpable. Every fan, every analyst, every rival is waiting for one thing: the morning lineup in Pittsburgh. Will Fowler’s name appear as the starting goaltender? Will the Canadiens take a leap of faith and trust their future to a rookie with everything to prove? The answer, for now, remains hidden—locked away in the mind of Martin St-Louis and the inner workings of the team.

One thing is certain: if Jacob Fowler steps onto the ice for his NHL debut, Montreal will be watching with bated breath, ready for a night that could become legend. The stakes have never been higher, and the story is just beginning.

Photo of Canadiens goalie Jacob Fowler

Photo credit: NHL

The rumor is growing: Jacob Fowler could get his first start with the Canadiens as early as tomorrow.

Last night at the Bell Centre, the Canadiens were crushed 6-1 by the Tampa Bay Lightning, another very difficult game for Jakub Dobes and Samuel Montembeault, who each allowed three goals on fewer than 30 total shots.

After this painful defeat, the team now holds a record of 15-11-3 and has lost four of its last six games, while showing one of the worst defenses in the NHL with an average of 3.55 goals allowed per game, tied with the Buffalo Sabres. It is in this context that the Canadiens recalled three players from the Laval Rocket: goaltender Jacob Fowler, defenseman Adam Engstrom, and forward Owen Beck, the first NHL call-up for Fowler after his impressive start to the season in Laval.

Jacob Fowler in the Canadiens’ net?

With the Rocket, Fowler has a record of 10-5-0 in 15 games, a 2.09 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage, which already makes him one of the most solid goaltenders in the American League this season.

According to a well-connected insider like Marco D’Amico, he would not be surprised at all to see Fowler named the starting goaltender as early as tomorrow in Pittsburgh, even if, for the moment, all of this clearly must remain at the rumor stage while awaiting Martin St-Louis’ official decision.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Jacob Fowler starts tomorrow’s game against the Penguins on the road.”

– Marco D’Amico

The scenario is logical: the Canadiens must visit the Penguins on Thursday night, a competitive team but without Evgeni Malkin, who is on the injured list with an upper-body issue, which makes the matchup even more intriguing for a young goaltender who would be making his league debut.

At 21 years old, listed at 6 feet 2 inches and roughly 213 pounds, Fowler already represents the major hope in net for the Canadiens, and his size and numbers speak for themselves over the past three seasons, whether in the NCAA or in Laval. On a three-year entry-level contract with the Canadiens, from 2025-2026 to 2027-2028, he carries a cap hit of $923,333 USD and a salary of around $870,000 USD this year, a clear investment by Kent Hughes to stabilize the goaltending position long-term in Montreal.

One thing is certain: all eyes from the fanbase will be on the morning lineup in Pittsburgh. If Jacob Fowler’s name appears as the starting goaltender, we will be in for an NHL debut night that is sure to generate massive buzz in the Montreal market.