When Owen Beck lastly scored his first NHL objective final Saturday towards Pittsburgh — after having two earlier scores disallowed in earlier video games — it appeared solely becoming goaltender Jacob Fowler ultimately left his crease to congratulate him.
And when Jacob Fowler
earned his first profession NHL shutout that night time towards the Penguins
, Beck couldn’t disguise his enthusiasm.
“A 31-save shutout. It sort of speaks for itself,” Beck mentioned that night time. “That’s fairly sick. Good for him. He’s a superb goalie. I’ve been saying it because the first time I noticed him on the ice. I’m super-hyped for him. It couldn’t have been a greater night time to get that one finished.”
The 2 gamers have been concurrently recalled, together with defenceman Adam Engstrom, from the AHL’s Laval Rocket on Dec. 9 after an embarrassing
6-1 loss to Tampa Bay
on the Bell Centre. Having performed collectively final season on the Rocket — at the very least as of April, after Fowler concluded his NCAA profession and signed with the Canadiens — they’ll perpetually be joined on the hip.
“Clearly, we’ve been via just a few ups and down in Laval final 12 months,” Fowler mentioned. “Arising collectively this 12 months, he has extra expertise than me, so I leaned on him after I first bought known as up, asking how issues work. I don’t get too fired up when (teammates) rating, however I positively had an enormous smile when he scored that one.”
After having the night time off Sunday, when
Pittsburgh defeated the Canadiens 4-3 in a shootout
within the groups’ rematch, Fowler is scheduled to begin Tuesday night time, when Montreal meets the Boston Bruins at TD Backyard in its last sport earlier than the Christmas break
(7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN Radio 690, 98.5 FM).
The sport could have added significance for Fowler, who spent two seasons at Boston Faculty earlier than deciding to show professional after his sophomore marketing campaign. He went 25-7-2 with the Eagles final season whereas recording seven shutouts together with a 1.63 goals-against common and a .940 save proportion. Fowler was named Hockey East’s goalie of the 12 months for a second consecutive season and was a runner-up for participant of the 12 months honours.
“I’ve had some success in that constructing earlier than and I’ve been to a whole lot of video games there,” Fowler mentioned after his shutout.
It will mark Fowler’s fifth sport with the Canadiens. He has a 2-1-1 file, 2.49 GAA and a .915 save proportion. He received his debut at Pittsburgh on Dec. 11 in a 4-2 victory, earlier than shedding in extra time to the New York Rangers two nights later, permitting 5 targets on 29 photographs. He additionally was on the shedding finish towards Philadelphia final Tuesday, permitting three targets on solely 20 photographs and exhibiting indecision with the puck earlier than shedding it behind the online, resulting in a Flyers’ objective.
His rebound efficiency towards Pittsburgh could possibly be the right tonic because the rookie continues his evolution to the NHL.
Tuesday’s sport additionally marks the return to the Canadiens of centre
Phillip Danault, acquired in a commerce from Los Angeles
Friday night time for a 2026 second-round draft selection. Danault, who had 5 assists in 30 video games with the Kings, skated with Montreal for the primary time Tuesday morning and is predicted to play between Alexandre Texier and Josh Anderson. Danault spent six seasons with Montreal earlier than signing with Los Angeles as a free agent.
“It’s like I by no means left,” he mentioned Tuesday morning in Boston. “There’s nothing higher than (enjoying at) TD Backyard. I’m actually pleased to be right here. I feel a change of surroundings was welcome. With (the function) I used to be given, I felt I couldn’t contribute something to the staff. I wasn’t helpful.”
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis believes Danault’s arrival has injected enthusiasm into the staff.
“Clearly, he’s a veteran, and he’s a man that’s very dependable (defensively) and may kill penalties,” St. Louis mentioned in Boston. “I see him enjoying his sport, the function he at all times has performed all through his profession. I feel it’s one thing that we want, particularly having a man like that doing it for a very long time, I feel it’s going to assist our younger group. He’s excited. He’s a man, particularly on the highway, you are feeling very snug (utilizing him) when it comes to matchups.
“We all know he has an offensive sport; he has confirmed that. The extra he will get snug with how we play collectively, I feel he’s going to have alternative to supply.”
St. Louis mentioned a virus has been circulating via the dressing room, maybe why Cole Caufield and Brendan Gallagher didn’t skate Tuesday morning, though each are anticipated to play.
Joe Veleno
additionally skated Tuesday morning. He left Sunday’s sport late within the third interval after colliding with Pittsburgh defenceman Jack St. Ivany.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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