This week, the Montreal Canadiens recalled goaltender Jacob Fowler from the Laval Rocket. The promotion came after yet another crushing loss this season this time to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 21-year-old goaltending prospect boldly stepped into the breach making 36 saves in his NHL debut. In carrying the Canadiens to a win, Fowler also helped to calm the chaotic waters in Montreal.
Despite his heroic performance, Fowler couldn’t possibly cure the myriad of problems that have plagued the Habs all season. Many of those issues were on full display on Saturday night after the Canadiens took a three goal lead in the first period of Saturday’s game against the Rangers, resulting in a 5-4 overtime loss.
“We were in complete control of the game at 3-0. The other team had no life at that point. Then, we started making silly mistakes, which allowed them to come alive,” said Montreal head coach Martin St-Louis. “That’s the story of the game.”
And it’s been the story of the season, so far.
This Week’s Show
This week’s big topic on the Canadiens Connection podcast is built around a phrase that can’t be avoided when watching this team play — a house of cards. Not just because of one bad game, or one bad stretch, or even one bad decision… but because everything feels stacked in a way that’s a little too fragile for comfort. One wrong move, one injury, one lineup tweak that doesn’t land, and suddenly the whole thing feels like it could come down.
The recall of Jacob Fowler is the moment that really sharpens that feeling. On the surface, it looks like a simple response to poor goaltending and blowout losses. But underneath it, this move forces a lot of uncomfortable questions — about development, about accountability, about trust in the structure in front of the goalie, and about who ultimately pays the price if things don’t stabilize. So in the latest episode of the Canadiens Connection, we unpack where this house of cards actually starts, why it’s so delicate right now, and what has to happen if the Canadiens want to keep it standing — instead of watching it collapse under its own weight.
NEW PODCAST | Fragile Balance: Fowler and the Habs’ House of Cards | Canadiens Connection ep 378
Don’t Miss This
On this week’s episode of the podcast, we also discussed these topics:
- Canadiens recall Fowler, Beck, Engstrom. Was a message sent?
- Laval Rocket involved in a brawl with Maple Leafs affiliate. Who was suspended?
- NHL trade market has been unlocked with a blockbuster move.
CC Question of the Week: What’s the bigger risk right now for the Canadiens: damaging Fowler’s development, or continuing to lose credibility with the current roster and coaching staff?
It is our eighth season, with a new episode of the podcast dropping every Saturday afternoon. Be sure to subscribe using your favorite podcast app! Or watch our episodes on YouTube!
Canadiens Connection Podcast: House of Cards
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