- Jacob Fowler has a 1.91 GAA and .906 save percentage through three starts
- Jakub Dobes sits at 4.63 and .842 after four starts
- Read below for how the Canadiens’ crease looks with Montembeault still out
Jacob Fowler is outplaying Jakub Dobes in the Canadiens’ crease, and the numbers aren’t close.
Fowler owns a 1.91 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage through three starts. Dobes is at 4.63 and .842 through four, which Daily Faceoff called one of the worst marks among starters in the league.
Here’s our side-by-side of the two:
Dobes opened the year with a 3-2 win in Toronto and allowed two goals. Since then he’s given up six in an overtime loss at Pittsburgh, five against Carolina and five more Wednesday in Washington’s 5-4 win. That’s a 1-2-1 record.
Fowler got his chance because Samuel Montembeault went down, and he has made the most of it. He is 2-1-0 with a shutout against Detroit and a shootout win over Buffalo on Tuesday. His one loss came against Nashville, when he allowed three.
Watch Fowler’s shutout celebration from Saturday against the Red Wings:
Former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton talked about Dobes’ rough start on Daily Faceoff LIVE. He pointed to how much a young goalie can lean on a new contract, and how much the depth behind him matters.
“Having three good guys in your system to play and push is going to be very important for the future of the Montreal Canadiens.”
Dobes isn’t going anywhere. He signed a three-year extension worth about $5.35 million after last spring’s run to the Eastern Conference Final, per Daily Faceoff. Montembeault was ruled out up to two weeks on Oct. 9, so Montreal has three goalies for now.
The Canadiens host Buffalo again Saturday, the same team Fowler beat Tuesday. The starter they pick will say plenty.
