The Montreal Canadiens announced that rookie goaltender Jacob Fowler will make his NHL debut tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Fowler was recalled from the AHL after the Canadiens’ 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday along with forward Owen Beck and defenceman Adam Engstrom.
As a rookie with the Laval Rocket this season, Fowler is 10-5-0 with a .919 save percentage and 2.09 goals-against average in 15 appearances.
He made his AHL debut last season, appearing in three regular-season games and eight postseason contests, where he went 3-3 with an .902 save percentage and 2.48 GAA as the Rocket made it to the third round of the playoffs.
Fowler’s recall comes as both Samuel Montembeault and Jakub Dobes have struggled in net for the Canadiens.
In 15 appearances, Montembeault is 5-6-1 with an .857 save percentage and 3.65 GAA while Dobes has an .887 save percentage and 3.15 GAA with a 10-5-2 record in 17 appearances.
Former Canadiens goaltenders Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy and Carey Price all previously made their NHL debuts against the Penguins. Dryden backstopped Montreal to a 5-1 win on March 14, 1971 while Patrick Roy also beat the Penguins 5-3 on Oct. 10, 1985.
Price achieved the feat on Oct. 10, 2007 as he picked up a 3-2 win.
The Canadiens have lost two straight games and are fifth in the Eastern Conference wild card race.
