In a night dedicated to celebrating fresh talent, two Montreal Canadiens rookies stole the show at the Bell Centre. Goaltender Jacob Fowler recorded his first NHL shutout, turning aside 31 shots, while forward Owen Beck notched his first career NHL goal, propelling the Habs to a decisive 4-0 victory over the struggling Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, December 20, 2025.
A Rookie Duo Steals the Spotlight
The game served as a perfect showcase for the Canadiens' promising youth. Both Fowler and Beck began the season with the AHL's Laval Rocket, making their simultaneous breakthrough performances a poignant moment. Fowler, rebounding strongly from a costly mistake in his previous start against Philadelphia, was particularly brilliant in the third period, making 17 of his 31 saves to preserve the clean sheet. This also marked the first shutout of the season for the entire Canadiens team.
For Beck, the goal was a long-awaited reward. After having two potential goals disallowed earlier in the month, he finally found one that counted. His milestone marker was a highlight-reel effort, as he streaked down the left wing on a solo rush and beat Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner high to the glove side late in the first period.
Key Performances and Historic Notes
The victory was bolstered by significant contributions across the lineup. Juraj Slafkovsky opened the scoring with a power-play goal, his 10th of the season, reaching that mark 20 games faster than the previous year. Captain Nick Suzuki added an assist, his 30th of the campaign, making him the first Canadien to hit 30 assists in 35 games since Saku Koivu in 1996-97.
Defenceman Lane Hutson also made history with an assist, becoming the 11th-fastest blueliner in NHL history to reach 100 career points, achieving the feat in just 119 games. Veteran forward Josh Anderson broke a personal slump, scoring twice including a shorthanded breakaway goal where he outraced Sidney Crosby to a loose puck.
Penguins' Struggles Deepen
The loss extended a dismal stretch for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are now mired in an eight-game winless streak (0-4-4). The team has allowed at least four goals in six consecutive contests and has been shut out in its last two games. Captain Sidney Crosby, who remains the team's scoring leader with 35 points, was held largely in check and didn't register his first shot on Fowler until over nine minutes into the third period. He finished the night as a minus-2.
Goaltending continued to be an issue for Pittsburgh, as Skinner was beaten on three of the first 12 shots he faced and posted a save percentage of .850 on the night. The Penguins' usually potent power play, ranked third in the league at 30.4%, went 0-for-3 and yielded Anderson's shorthanded tally.
Fowler, at 21 years and 26 days old, became the youngest Canadiens goalie to record a shutout since Carey Price in 2008. In the locker room after the game, the rookie was humble in victory. "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."
Beck echoed the excitement. "I'm just super excited," he stated. "The two that were called off or called back made it that much more sweet. I'm happy I could do it in this building." The Canadiens and Penguins are set for a quick rematch on Sunday night in Pittsburgh.
