We don’t do this often at Hidden Game headquarters, but this edition is dedicated to both Jacob Fowler and Owen Beck.
It seemed only fitting both players, after starting the season with AHL Laval, should share the glory and limelight together again Saturday night at the Bell Centre.
After having a brain cramp last Tuesday against Philadelphia when he showed indecision with the puck behind his net and costing the Canadiens a goal, Fowler was brilliant in blanking the Pittsburgh Penguins while stopping 31 shots — 17 in the third period — for his first NHL shutout. It also was Montreal’s first shutout this season.
As for Beck, after having two goals disallowed this month, he finally scored one that counted, notching his first career NHL score. And it was a goal-scorer’s goal, coming late in the first period. Beck streaked down the left side on a solo effort, beating Stuart Skinner high to the glove side.
News you need (Part I): Jakub Dobes recorded his first career NHL shutout last Dec 28 in his first career game. Fowler got his in his fourth game. This could become quite the goaltending tandem for years to come.
In case you were wondering: While his teammates were mobbing Fowler at the game’s conclusion, it was Oliver Kapanen — another rookie — who skated into the corner to retrieve the puck.
News you need (Part II): With one assist, Lane Hutson became the 11th-fastest defenceman in NHL history to reach 100 points. It took him 119 games.
News you need (Part III): With one assist — his 30th this season — captain Nick Suzuki became the first Canadiens player to reach that total in 35 games since Saku Koivu in 1996-97.
News you need (Part IV): Juraj Slafkovsky’s game-opening goal, scored on the power play, was his 10th this season in his 35th game. He needed 55 games to reach that total last season.
News you need (Part V): Fowler becomes the first rookie in Canadiens history to shut out Pittsburgh. At 21 years and 26 days, he becomes the youngest Montreal goalie with a shutout since Carey Price (20 years, 229 days) on April 1, 2008.
Pass of the night: Cole Caufield to Slafkovsky.
Party poopers: Last Sunday, the Canadiens denied Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl from achieving his 1,000th career point against them. Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby still needs two points to pass Mario Lemieux and become the most productive Penguins player.
Strange, but true (Part I): Crosby, who can still play this game a little at age 38, didn’t get his first shot on Fowler until 9:04 of the final period. He produced his second, 14 seconds later. He played slightly more than 21 minutes, had three shots, but also was a minus-2. But don’t shed a tear for him. Crosby still leads the Penguins in scoring with 19 goals and 35 points in 34 games.
Strange, but true (Part II): Pittsburgh’s last victory came on Dec. 4, against Tampa Bay. Starting with its Dec. 11 loss at home to Montreal, the team has allowed at least four goals in six straight games. Pittsburgh has now been shut out in two straight contests and is mired in an eight-game losing streak (0-4-4).
Strange, but true (Part III): While Caufield still has a team-leading 17 goals, he has gone five games without scoring.
Injury news: Jake Evans took a knee-on-knee hit in the first period, colliding with Justin Brazeau, and didn’t return. That Phillip Danault trade is starting to look even better.
Our random thought of the night: With these teams meeting again Sunday night in Pittsburgh, we wonder which club arrived first at Trudeau airport?
Pittsburgh Penguins’ Noel Acciari (55) checks Canadiens’ Arber Xhekaj (72) against the boards in Montreal on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.
First hit of the night: Evans knocked down Thomas Novak in the opening minute.
Last hit of the night: Arber Xhekaj on Novak — who must have felt like a human pinata — with 18 seconds remaining.
With friends like this, who needs enemies: Crosby was cut over the right eye in the second period after taking a high stick from defenceman Brett Kulak, a former Canadien.
Who said Josh Anderson can’t score on breakaways: He outraced Crosby to a loose puck and scored the Canadiens’ third goal. He added an empty-netter late in the third period. Anderson also hit the crossbar in the opening period.
Sieve of the night: Skinner had his issues in Edmonton — and he’s not much better in Pittsburgh. He was beaten on the ninth, 10th and 12th shots he faced. His save percentage on this night was .850. And he’s not nearly as entertaining as Principal Skinner of Simpsons fame.
Next time, decline the penalty: Heading into the game, the Penguins had the NHL’s third-best power play (30.4 per cent). Not only did they go 0-3 against the Canadiens, they allowed Anderson’s short-handed goal.
Quick stats: Anderson had four shots, one block and two hits. Slafkovsky and Hutson both blocked three shots. Beck had three hits. Mike Matheson, in his return after missing two games, played 26:48. Xhekaj, despite playing only 13:19, had two hits. Pittsburgh’s Anthony Mantha, Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson all were minus-3.
They said it: “It’s another puck to give to my dad and let him put it in the trophy case,” Fowler said. “I was grateful for the effort in front of me. They made my job pretty easy tonight to see pucks and be under control. “Any time (Crosby’s) on the ice you’re alert. He’s one of my favourite players. You know when he’s on the ice every time and you want to stop him. I’m just lucky I got the better end of it tonight.
“I felt pretty efficient tonight,” Fowler added. “I knew I had to be better. I needed to better than the last start that I had.”
“I’m just super excited,” Beck said. “The two that were called off or called back made it that much more sweet. It was a pretty nice goal to score. I’m happy with that. I’m happy I could do it in this building.”
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