KANATA — Under fluorescent lights and the hush that comes before a puck drop, the canadiens vs senators matchup took an unexpected turn when the Montreal Canadiens announced the recall of goaltender Jacob Fowler from the Laval Rocket and named him the starter. The decision arrived on the second night of a back-to-back and altered the routines in opposing dressing rooms ahead of the 7: 30 p. m. ET puck drop.
Canadiens Vs Senators: Who’s starting and why?
Short answer: Jacob Fowler will start for Montreal and Linus Ullmark will start for Ottawa. The Canadiens recalled Jacob Fowler from the AHL’s Laval Rocket and listed him as the starter for the night. The Senators countered by naming Linus Ullmark in net following a recent shutout by teammate James Reimer on the previous night. The game time was set for 7: 30 p. m. ET.
Why Jacob Fowler now, and what do his recent numbers show?
Jacob Fowler’s recall follows an earlier NHL stint with Montreal this season and a return to the Rocket. Fowler, 21, had been with the Canadiens for 10 games earlier in the campaign and made his NHL debut during that span. He registered a 4-4-2 record and recorded his first career shutout while maintaining a. 902 save percentage and a 2. 62 goals-against average in one account of that stretch. In AHL play for Laval, he returned to action after an upper-body injury and, over 27 appearances, posted a. 916 save percentage with a 2. 23 goals-against average. The recall comes after Fowler’s recent start for Laval, a 4-2 win over Rochester, which was his first game since missing time because of injury and an AHL All-Star absence.
How does this move fit into the broader playoff picture?
Montreal’s decision to recall and start Fowler is more than a single-game choice; it arrives with standings consequences. Montreal currently holds the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and each two points in the standings carry weight. For Ottawa, a victory would move the Senators closer to contention—within three points of Boston for a final wild-card position while narrowing the gap to Montreal by five points. Conversely, a Canadiens win would strengthen Montreal’s hold on its playoff position and widen the margin between the clubs. The two teams entered the night with Montreal leading the season series, having won two of three matchups and with both Montreal victories coming in overtime; each side had tallied four points from the first three meetings.
The context of the night also shaped logistics: freezing rain and icy conditions in the city prompted organizers to open doors early for ticketed fans, a practical response that framed a contest with both on-ice and off-ice pressures.
The recall underscores Montreal’s handling of a back-to-back and its short-term roster choices: it had been assumed that Sam Montembeault would start, but that goaltender has struggled of late, prompting the shift to Fowler. On the Ottawa side, Linus Ullmark’s placement in net followed the momentum of a team shutout earlier in the week.
For fans who arrived early and for players who warmed up beneath the bowl lights, the game became a compact drama of opportunity. A young netminder given a sudden NHL starting role, a veteran opponent riding recent success, and playoff math pressing from both benches—each element made the night more than routine.
Back in the corridor where players filed onto the ice, the line between urgency and possibility felt thin. Fowler’s recall and start turned a routine stop on the road into a test: for him, a chance to reclaim NHL form; for Montreal and Ottawa, a meaningful tilt in a season that still has room for change.
