Can Jacob Fowler Be The Montreal Canadiens Starting Goalie In The Playoffs?

The Montreal Canadiens sit in the top three of the Atlantic Division and first place in their respective regions. However, the big question for the Canadiens, if they make it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, will be who will be between the pipes for Game 1 of Round 1? Will it be Samuel Montembeault, Jakub Dobes, or rookie Jacob Fowler?

For the second time this season, the Canadiens recalled Fowler from the AHL and the Laval Rocket. Fowler played against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday and played with more ease and control than he did earlier in the season. He has played 11 games this season for the Canadiens, and the goal was for him to come out this season, not before, as he did in December. That was not part of the plan.

NHL Rumors: Montreal Canadiens Dominate Goalie Market

Through those 11 games, Fowler has a 5-4-2 record with a 2.56 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage with one shutout. That shutout came in his fourth NHL start. Montreal Canadiens fans have been waiting for Fowler to come to the big club because of what he did in college with Boston College and what he did in the AHL for Laval.

While he sometimes looked like a rookie in the NHL in some of the games he played in, in other games he looked like the next franchise goaltender, from Ken Dryden to Patrick Roy to Carey Price to Fowler. There is a reason why Martin St. Louis wanted to go to Fowler instead of Montembeault in the second half of the return. He knew how important those points were to the top.

Just look at the last minute, and highlight reel saves he made as the Canadiens were pinned in their defense by the Ottawa Senators. He robbed Claude Giroux at the door. With any other goaltender, in a 3-3 tie, the Canadiens would have been waiting to win because of Jacob Fowler.

JACOB. FOWLER. ?

You need to see this save from the last 1:10 of this game! pic.twitter.com/L1CST0jf0c

— NHL (@NHL) March 12, 2026

Given the state of the Canadiens’ offense, it’s unlikely he’ll start in the playoffs, as TSN Hockey Analyst and Director of Scouting, Craig Button, told Jay Onrait on SportsCenter.

Yes. Well, I have to answer the question, yes. And now we go back a little bit in time, and when he was called before Christmas, the Montreal Canadiens were stumbling.

Sam Montembeault just couldn’t find his game. Jakub Dobes had hit speed bumps, and Jacob Fowler came in, and gave the Canadiens a really consistent presence in net, consistent, solid play. And I think that was the most important part of the season with Jacob in net that allowed the Montreal Canadiens to get their legs under them and move forward.

Now Sam Montembeaulty has his game planned. Jakub Dobes was excellent and Jacob Fowler is back in the minors. But now he has a comeback game. Montreal plays on Tuesday. They entered Ottawa. He fires Jacob Fowler. You are there to help your team win the game. That’s what a backup goalie should do in this case.

NHL Rumors: The Market Will Decide What Canadiens Do With Their Goals

But if you look at the goal, and you look at the playoffs, you obviously need skill, but you need to be invisible. In the pressure of the playoffs, you need to stay grounded.

Your opponents will throw many different things at you, try to confuse you, try to throw you out of your rhythm. And so while he has the qualities that Jacob Fowler has, that ease, that steady play, quiet feet, he’s not dancing in the lounge. He’s really confident in his game; he has a special knowledge of hockey and he studies the game.

And while we can look back, Ken Dryden in 1971, six regular season games before leading the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup gets the Conn Smythe. Patrick Roy in ’86 played a full season, won the Conn Smythe, and helped the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup.

I’m not suggesting that Jacob Fowler will lead the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup or win the Conn Smythe, but there is no question in my mind that the starter in Game 1 will be Jacob Fowler because he has all those qualities needed to win the Stanley Cup, and I think he gives the Canadiens the best chance when the playoffs begin.

Also, Fowler may not be the Montreal Canadiens’ goal-scoring savior this season. Defensively, the team needs to play better, but he has the qualities of those guys to allow Montreal to make a deep run in the open Eastern Conference.

NHL Rumors: Can Alex Newhook Solve Montreal Canadiens’ Right Wing Problem

While Fowler may not have NHL playing experience, he does have AHL playing experience. But to get experience, you need to earn it. Jacob Fowler makes sense for Montreal, as he gives the team a good chance to win. Just look at what the rookie goaltenders have done. Cam Ward, Matt Murray, Jordan Binington, and others had no playing experience, and the team won the Stanley Cup.

Also, no one is saying Fowler will lead the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup, but if he plays like Carey Price, they have a chance to make a run.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? Rumors and hot topics from around the league. We also post some stuff on Instagram.