Canadiens recall standout prospect Fowler amid goaltending woes

The Montreal Canadiens recalled goaltender Jacob Fowler from the AHL's Laval Rocket, the team announced after Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Montreal has the NHL's worst team save percentage (.870) after Jakub Dobes and Sam Montembeault combined to allow six goals on 27 shots versus Tampa Bay.

Fowler has gone 10-5-0 with three shutouts this season in the minors. He sports a .919 save percentage, which ranks fifth among all AHL netminders with 10 or more appearances.

The 21-year-old is in his first pro season after starring at Boston College the past two campaigns. Fowler won the Mike Richter Award last year as the NCAA's best goaltender after posting a 25-7-2 record with a .940 save percentage. He was ranked the NHL's second-best goalie prospect by Elite Prospects in August.

Montembeault, who was Canada's third-string goaltender at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, has an .857 save percentage through 15 games. It's the lowest mark for any goaltender with at least 10 starts this season.

Dobes' numbers have cratered since the 24-year-old began the season by going 5-0-0 with a .940 save percentage. That's since fallen to an .860 clip in his last 12 contests. Dobes was pulled Thursday after allowing three goals on 14 shots.