Cowan: Canadiens playing long game with goalie Jacob Fowler
Primeau was pulled in the second period of Games 2 and 3 against Charlotte. His save percentage in those two games was .765 after allowing eight goals on 34 shots. Fowler started Game 4, allowing three goals on 26 shots in a 3-2 loss to Charlotte as the Checkers advanced to the Calder Cup final against the Abbotsford Canucks. Game 1 of the final is Friday night in Charlotte.
Heading into the AHL playoffs, I thought Laval should go with Fowler as the No. 1 goalie after he left Boston College and played three regular-season games with the Rocket, posting a 2-1 record with a 2.32 GAA and a .914 save percentage. Fowler won the Mike Richter Award with Boston College as the best goalie in NCAA Division 1 after posting a 25-7-2 record, along with a 1.63 GAA, a .940 save percentage and seven shutouts.
Primeau was a big reason why the Rocket finished with the best record in the AHL during the regular season, posting a 21-2-2 record, along with a 1.96 GAA and a .927 save percentage after being sent down by the Canadiens. The 25-year-old has struggled in the NHL, posting a 2-3-1 record with a 4.70 GAA and an .836 save percentage with the Canadiens this season before going to Laval.
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