montrealgazette.com
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Goaltender Jacob Fowler said it was a dream come true playing for the Canadiens recently.
He also probably realizes it’s only a matter of time before that dream becomes a reality again. And, perhaps it was inevitable the clock eventually would strike midnight for the 21-year-old rookie and
he’d be returned to AHL Laval
.
“You just try to play as much as you can,” Fowler said after Tuesday’s practice at Place Bell. “The more you can try to play your best and put the best result on the ice, you’re going to get more opportunities. I’m happy with what I was able to prove up there, and I thought I showed some good things. But ultimately, I knew maybe I wasn’t going to be there the whole time.
“I kind of knew this year I was probably going to play more games here than up there. It just gave me more fuel to want to go back. Once you get the taste of being up there … ultimately you want to play for (the Canadiens) as much as you can. That’s the dream.”
Promoted by the Canadiens on Dec. 9
after a 6-1 home-ice loss to Tampa Bay
, Fowler played 10 games for Montreal and didn’t embarrass himself. At one point, he provided the team with its best option at the position, mainly due to the inconsistent play of Samuel Montembeault and
Jakub Dobes
.
Fowler went 4-4-2 in the NHL with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage. He also recorded the only shutout this season by a Canadiens goalie,
stopping 31 Pittsburgh shots
on Dec. 20. But Fowler’s inexperience eventually caught up to him. He lost four of his final five games and was returned to Laval on Jan. 16 after allowing four Buffalo goals on 26 shots during a 5-3 defeat.
“It’s kind of bittersweet,” Fowler said. “You get that little taste, and now all you want is more. Just try to be where your feet are every day because things can change quick — as we’ve seen.”
The Canadiens’ three-headed goalie monster was never ideal. That situation has settled somewhat, with Dobes playing better. He received his fourth consecutive start Monday at Minnesota. Although
Montreal lost 4-3 in overtime
, Dobes has gone 8-0-2 in his last 10 games. After Wednesday’s game at Winnipeg, the Canadiens won’t play for three weeks during the Winter Olympics. That means Fowler should receive plenty of games for the Rocket and might finish the season in the AHL.
“The biggest thing, no matter where you are, you’ve got to play your best and do the right things,” he said. “No matter where you are, if you’re not improving every day, there’s somebody else coming, either in front of you or behind you. When I’m here, you want to focus on doing the right things. Keep your head in the moment. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say every day I’m thinking about what I can do to get back there and help the team win.”
Fowler has played six games since his return to Laval, winning four. Other than allowing five goals at Calgary during a 6-3 loss on Jan. 26, his performances have been steady. He has gone 14-7 with a 2.25 GAA and a .915 save percentage while recording three shutouts.
Following an upper-body injury to
Kaapo Kahkonen
during a practice last week, Fowler was called upon to play back-to-back games, Friday night in Syracuse and Saturday afternoon in Toronto. Laval won both games in overtime and Fowler allowed only three goals in total.
He’s also doing it without goalie coach Marco Marciano, who was promoted to the Canadiens last week
after the firing of Éric Raymond
. Marciano remains in contact with Fowler and watches as many of Laval’s games as possible. Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent hopes to hire a replacement for Marciano as quickly as possible, but wants to ensure he makes the right decision.
“I don’t think in the short term (the goalies) will forget how to play,” Vincent said. “But we don’t want to waste any time, either.”
Vincent said Fowler’s attitude since returning remains exemplary. His work ethic’s strong, he’s coachable and is a good teammate.
“Of course, those moments spent in the NHL are always helpful,” Vincent said. “He’s humble, fun to be around, has great energy and is talented. He’s going to have a good future. I haven’t seen anything different in his behaviour. He looks confident.”
Notes
— Forward Jared Davidson is sidelined with a lower-body injury after getting into a fight at Toronto. … Fowler will start Wednesday at home against Utica as Laval begins a five-game homestand.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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