Jacob Fowler Stops 33 Shots in the Heritage Classic for a Fifth Straight Win as the Canadiens Keep Rolling Without Nick Suzuki

Jacob Fowler made 33 saves on Sunday as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in the 2026 Heritage Classic in Winnipeg. Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle scored, and Cole Caufield had two assists. It was Fowler's fifth straight win since Montreal recalled him on Oct. 7, and the Canadiens got it without captain Nick Suzuki, who is out two to four weeks with an upper-body injury.

For fantasy managers, the outdoor game was a showcase for the 21-year-old goalie who has quietly become one of the hottest streamers in the league, and it raised a fair question about how Montreal's offense works without its top-line center.

How the game unfolded

The Jets outshot Montreal by a wide margin, and Fowler was the difference. Winnipeg's only goal came from Isak Rosen, and Stuart Skinner made 19 saves in a losing effort for the Jets. Montreal's two goals both came from defensemen, which says something about how the Canadiens are generating offense with Suzuki out.

Fowler spent less than two weeks in the minors before the recall, and he has seized the net since. A 33-save game on a big stage, in an outdoor game, is the kind of performance that earns a young goalie more starts.

The key lines

Here are the fantasy-relevant performances from Sunday's game.

Fowler is a must-roster goalie

A five-game winning streak since a recall is the strongest signal a fantasy manager can get about a young goalie's role. Fowler has done it during a stretch when Montreal is missing its best center, which suggests the wins are not just a product of the team in front of him. Coach Martin St. Louis has said he wants his team to spend less time defending, which tells you how often Fowler has been asked to bail them out, and he has.

Fowler should be rostered in all leagues that start two or more goalies. The risk is regression: a young goalie facing heavy shot volume will have bad nights. But wins and saves are both categories, and Fowler is producing in both.

Montreal without Suzuki

Suzuki's injury ended a streak of 546 consecutive regular-season games, which was second in the league behind Brent Burns. He led Montreal with 12 points in nine games before the injury, which occurred when he was hit on the hand by a shot against San Jose, according to multiple reports. RotoWire projects a return in early to mid-November.

Hutson is the biggest fantasy beneficiary. With Suzuki out, Montreal's offense is running more through its defense, and Hutson's power-play role was already among the most valuable for any defenseman in the league. He is a top-tier fantasy defenseman and should be started every night.

Caufield remains the top goal scorer, but his assist production could dip without Suzuki feeding him. Two assists Sunday suggest he is adjusting.

Who else gains in Montreal

Guhle's goal was a reminder that Montreal's defense is a real source of offense. With Suzuki out, the Canadiens are getting more scoring chances from the blue line, and Guhle, who is known primarily for his physical game, can offer some offensive upside in leagues that count hits and blocks.

On the forward side, Montreal's center depth is thin without Suzuki, and the players who move up the lineup gain power-play time and minutes. Check the Canadiens' line combinations before each game, because the coaching staff has been adjusting as the team adapts to his absence.

Winnipeg's side

Skinner continues to hold the Jets net after the Connor Hellebuyck trade to New Jersey, and 19 saves in a 2-1 loss is not a bad night. The problem is offense. Winnipeg generated plenty of shots but scored only once, and Montreal's young goalie was the reason.

The Jets play four games this week, two of them on lighter nights on the schedule, according to FantraxHQ, which makes Skinner and Winnipeg skaters, including new arrival Dawson Mercer, useful volume plays.

The betting angle

Montreal's recent wins have come with Fowler facing heavy shot volume, which is a pattern bettors should note. A team that wins while being outshot is relying on its goalie, and that can turn quickly. Until it does, Montreal is a live underdog in most matchups.

For the model's view of Canadiens and Jets games this week, see the NHL predictions page and the daily picks piece at /blog/nhl-picks-2026-10-26.

What to do in your league

Add: Fowler in all multi-goalie leagues.

Start: Hutson every night.

Hold: Suzuki through his injury. A two-to-four-week absence is not a reason to drop a top-line center.

Volume play: Skinner and the Jets, who play four games this week.

Watch: Montreal's line combinations at morning skate. With Suzuki out, the forwards who move into the top six and onto the first power-play unit are the next Canadiens worth a claim.