theathleticuk
On the afternoon of Carey Price's Hockey Hall of Fame ring ceremony in Toronto, the hockey world couldn't help but notice the young goaltender following in his footsteps. Jacob Fowler, at just 21 years old, turned aside 26 shots in the Montreal Canadiens' 4-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs that evening, displaying a poise that made the comparisons to Price seem almost preordained.
Fowler's performance was particularly striking given the context: he was coming off a start in which a 4-0 lead evaporated in the final three minutes of regulation, marking the first such collapse in NHL history. Yet there he was, protecting a 3-0 third-period lead that was narrowed to 3-2 after a highly questionable penalty call on Arber Xhekaj. Where many young goalies might have crumbled under the pressure, Fowler stood firm.
When asked about his ability to move past such adversity, Fowler's response only deepened the parallels to Price. "I don't really think about it," he said. "I think once something's over, it's in the past, and you can't really live in the past. Just focus on what's in front of you and the task at hand."
Price, speaking earlier that day, was asked about being compared to Patrick Roy at a young age and whether he had advice for Fowler. "That's the most important thing, he is himself and he doesn't need to be anything else," Price said. "He doesn't need to be me, he doesn't need to be Patrick. All he needs to do is just focus on his job and just be himself. I think it's important that he just tries to exclude some of the outside noise, because he's a good goaltender. There's a reason why he is where he's at."
Key Analysis
The similarities between Fowler and Price extend beyond mere statistics. Both possess a quiet, unflappable style that speaks volumes in high-pressure moments. When Price was shown a save Fowler made in the Heritage Classic against Mark Scheifele—a sliding stop that mirrored many of Price's own highlights—the Hall of Famer immediately recognized it. "Oh, yeah, I saw that," Price said. "He reads the play really well. He's got that instinct."
Fowler's maturity was on full display late in Saturday's game. With the Maple Leafs on another power play and pressing, he calmly turned aside another Nylander one-timer and then denied Jack Roslovic on a nearly identical chance. After the game, when told of Price's praise, Fowler smiled. "I think he's so elite and so special at so many different traits for a goalie," Fowler said. "I think this weekend more than ever, with him being inducted, I've heard a lot of the noise of what he's said, and it makes me feel like a little kid. I remember watching him, and there's been a lot of talk of how good the 2010 era of goaltending was, and he was among the best of them. It's so cool to hear those words."
Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, who spoke about Price's aura at the team hotel that morning, noted how Fowler commanded the room during a television timeout after Toronto had scored twice in 55 seconds to make it 3-2. "It's so surreal," Fowler said of wearing the Montreal crest. "I still feel like a little kid every time I get to put on the gear. It's so special to play in this organization."
Fowler's numbers this season are impressive: an 8-1-1 record, a 2.15 goals-against average, and a .925 save percentage. But it's his mental makeup that truly sets him apart. "I try not to get too emotional in the game," he explained. "The emotional part is something I can control. I felt last game I made a couple of bad decisions based on where the game was at, and I felt like tonight, I just wanted to play one shot at a time and be in the moment."
Price understands better than most the weight of expectations that comes with being a Canadiens goaltender, especially when compared to legends. That's why he stressed the importance of Fowler staying true to himself. Yet when Fowler's natural demeanor—calm amid chaos, positionally sound, absorbing pucks without surrendering dangerous rebounds—so closely mirrors Price's own style, the unfairness of the comparison is impossible to ignore. "I love watching him play," Price said. "He's got a really quiet game, that's what I love about him."
And it's that quietness that has allowed Fowler to make a loud impact, much like the Hall of Famer before him.
Originally reported by theathleticuk.