Habs Daily: Reinbacher’s Great Debut, Fowler Versus Hutson

Take a look at the Montreal Canadiens news, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Friday.

• Due to his excellent season in the NCAA, Pierre McGuire suggested it may be wise to send Jacob Fowler to the Laval Rocket next season. But there’s very little reward involved in a decision to rush a goaltender, and the risk is sky-high. For now, the best place for Fowler is with the Boston College Eagles. [Canadiens Must Remain Patient With Important NCAA Prospect]

• Top Montreal Canadiens prospect David Reinbacher made his North American professional hockey debut on Friday when the Laval Rocket faced their rivals, the Belleville Senators. Reinbacher had a very solid game, and he even managed to score the game-tying goal midway through the third period. To make things even more interesting, the goal itself was quite nice. [Canadiens Prospect David Reinbacher Scores First Goal First Shot]

• Speaking of top prospects, Lane Hutson had another great night in the NCAA. The defender scored the game-winning goal for Boston University as they defeated Maine 4-1 in the Hockey East Semi-Final. We all know Hutson can provide great hockey in the offensive zone, but his defensive play has also improved by leaps and bounds since he arrived at Boston University. [Canadiens Prospect Lane Hutson Improving All-Situations Play]

Lane Hutson is once again doing Lane Hutson Things™️ at @tdgarden

Watch on ESPN+: https://t.co/dCzHyYuaG7 @hockey_east | @NESN | @espn pic.twitter.com/lZbyapygD2

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) March 23, 2024

• Fellow NCAA standout Jacob Fowler also had a great Hockey East semifinal game. The Boston College Eagles cruised to an 8-1 win over UMass. Fowler made 27 saves in the win. This means Hutson and Fowler will face each other on Saturday for the Hockey East Championship, which takes place Saturday. The puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 pm ET.

Fowler anchors the defense as a complete team effort kills the five-minute UMass power-play 🔒

Still a 1-1 game when we come back from intermission.

📺 @NESN-Plus
💻 https://t.co/5s2DsDrbpC pic.twitter.com/Q6h6JtDcxB

— BC Men's Hockey (@BC_MHockey) March 22, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

• The Chicago Blackhawks are at the start of a full-on rebuild. Now they must ask themselves if there is a common formula for building a championship team. [Chicago Blackhawks]

• Thanks to Jake Allen, the New Jersey Devils’ pipe dream lives on. A dominant effort by the Devils, routing the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-1 victory on Thursday night, improved their chances of making the playoffs to 14.5% as of Friday morning. [Nashville Predators]

• Breaking into the NHL as a young player under Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella is a tough business. But even well-established players, like Cam Atkinson, aren’t safe. Oh, and if you thought Frank J. Selke Trophy winners and captains were safe, Flyers captain Sean Couturier would like a word. 24-year-old center Morgan Frost has come a long way since being compared by Tortorella to a toilet seat, and since being benched on Jan. 4, Frost has been on an absolute tear. [Philadelphia Flyers]