Jacob Fowler was masterful for the Montreal Canadiens in the 2026 Heritage Classic at Princess Auto Stadium in Manitoba on Sunday night, making 33 saves on 34 shots and helping the Habs beat the Winnipeg Jets 2-1.
In the process, the 21-year-old became the youngest goaltender in the history of the National Hockey League to start and win an outdoor game, per NHL.com's Derek Van Diest.
Fowler, who earned first star honors, came up with some big stops throughout the contest and looked calm and collected as the Canadiens clung to a one-goal lead late in regulation.
And he had fun doing it.
“This game was different than a lot of other games I played where a lot of times, you’re looking at the clock kind of waiting for it to run out,” Fowler told reporters afterwards, including Van Diest.
“Obviously you want to get the win, but I think tonight was one of those games where you never want the game to end. It’s so fun to be out there. … It’s such a great environment, the ice was pretty good, so it’s just a lot of fun, I definitely took in my fair share of the moment there.”
Fowler has been terrific between the pipes this season, going 5-1-0 over six starts while posting a sparkling 1.79 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.
It's not too shabby considering Fowler began the season in the American Hockey League and is now making a strong case to overtake a struggling Jakub Dobes for the No. 1 role in Montreal's crease.
In an elite Atlantic Division, the Canadiens need to ride the hot hand, and that's exactly what head coach Martin St. Louis has been doing over the last couple of weeks.
Article Continues Below“That position is a very important position and he’s playing very well for a young guy,” St. Louis told reporters, including Van Diest. “It’s all positive what he’s doing, and I think he’s done that at every level. This is a level that he wanted to get to, and he wants to prove it. It’s an everyday thing and I think he takes care of it every day.”
Difficult decisions will need to be made when Samuel Montembeault returns from the lower-body injury he sustained Oct. 7, which prompted Fowler's call-up in the first place.
But, at least right now, it looks like the Habs' goaltender of the future is also the goalie of the present.