Injury forces Habs to make a move in goal today

It's been a rocky start to the 2026-27 season for the Montreal Canadiens, and things just got a little more complicated in the crease. The Habs are only three games into the new campaign, and already the goaltending situation is generating plenty of questions. On Wednesday, the organization was forced to make a roster move that could have significant implications for the near future.

Montembeault Goes Down at Practice

Sam Montembeault appeared to suffer an injury during Wednesday's practice session, leaving the ice early while visibly favoring his right leg. The 29-year-old netminder from Becancour, Quebec, was reportedly hurt while attempting to make a save. Head coach Martin St-Louis told reporters after practice that he did not have an update on Montembeault's condition, as the goaltender was still being evaluated.

What makes this situation particularly interesting is that Montembeault hasn't even played a game yet this season. Despite earning a roster spot out of training camp over Jacob Fowler, it's been Jakub Dobes getting all three starts for Montreal so far. Now, with Montembeault potentially sidelined, the Canadiens wasted no time recalling Fowler from the AHL's Laval Rocket.

The speed of the recall is noteworthy. While some might speculate it was simply a precautionary move given that Laval doesn't play again until Saturday, the fact that Montreal pulled the trigger on the same day as the injury suggests the team believes Montembeault could be out for at least the short term, if not longer. Further updates are expected on Thursday.

Fowler Gets the Call

Jacob Fowler, still just 21 years old, is no stranger to the NHL at this point. The Melbourne, Florida native made his debut with the Canadiens last season after being selected 69th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. He posted a respectable 9-6-2 record in 2025-26 with a .908 save percentage and a 2.43 goals against average.

His AHL numbers to start this season have been even more impressive. In two starts with Laval against the Syracuse Crunch, Fowler allowed just three goals while putting up a 1.53 GAA and a .945 save percentage, going 1-1 in a back-to-back set.

With Dobes having surrendered 12 goals over Montreal's last two games, there's a real possibility that Fowler could get the nod in net on Thursday night when the Nashville Predators visit the Bell Centre. Both teams enter the matchup sitting at 1-1-1 on the young season, and the Canadiens could use a steadying presence between the pipes. It may not be the way Fowler envisioned getting back to the NHL, but opportunity has a way of knocking when you least expect it.