Fowler steals the show at Heritage Classic: Canadiens morning report

Sunday night at Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium, the Canadiens made the most of the outdoor stage, earning a 2-1 win over the Jets in the NHL’s Heritage Classic. Montreal grabbed the lead and, as La Presse points out, managed to protect a one-goal cushion for the second straight game.

Fowler delivers in the spotlight

In goal, Jacob Fowler was the story. Sportsnet describes the Canadiens netminder as looking calm and composed, like a kid on a backyard rink rather than someone playing under the national spotlight. He turned aside more than 30 shots and, according to Sportsnet, was the best player on the ice in this Heritage Classic matchup.

Winnipeg made things tight in the third period when Isak Rosen scored to cut Montreal’s lead to 2-1, as shown on Sportsnet’s highlight package. But Fowler shut the door the rest of the way, backing up what Sportsnet calls his big-game reputation and reinforcing the impression that he’s quickly becoming a key figure for the Habs.

Hutson, Guhle and Caufield power the offence

Offensively, the Canadiens got timely contributions. Sportsnet reports that Lane Hutson opened the scoring off a cross-ice feed from Noah Dobson, while Kaiden Guhle doubled the lead with a point shot through traffic. Cole Caufield assisted on both Montreal goals, finishing the night with two helpers in the outdoor showcase.

Eyes on the Prize notes that Montreal started quickly with its third line, highlighting early shifts from Josh Anderson and Kaiden Guhle. The same outlet also points out that former Habs shared memories of the club’s first Heritage Classic back in 2003, while current head coach Martin St. Louis spoke about his own fond memories of childhood outdoor rinks and his excitement at taking part in this year’s event.

Standings check and a stop in St. Louis next

In the standings, the Canadiens wake up 5th in the Atlantic Division with 14 points in 11 games and a 6-3-2 record. After this successful stop in Winnipeg, Martin St. Louis’s team stays on the road: the Habs will face the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. Montreal time. It’s another chance for Montreal to build on their strong start and on Fowler’s statement performance under the outdoor lights.