Jakub Dobeš is becoming a playoff hero for the Montreal Canadiens. After Game 3’s dominant 6-2 win at the “Centre Bell“, the Habs now sit just two wins away from the Eastern Conference Finals. It would be the first time they have made the semi-finals since their Finals run back in 2021. The fans can thank their 6’4” netminder, who played a major part in that.
Dobeš’s Numbers Speak for Themselves
Going into the 25-26 season, it wasn’t a guarantee that the Ostrava, Czechia native would be the starter. After battling with both Sam Montembeault and Jacob Fowler, Dobeš earned the spot. He has made the best of his opportunity all season, posting a 29-10-4 record with a 2.77 GAA and a .904 SV%.
This includes the young goalie becoming the 10th rookie goaltender in NHL history to win his first six appearances. Dobeš set a franchise record with the fewest goals allowed (4) in his first four career NHL games. In the Stanley Cup playoffs, he’s guided the Habs to a 6-4 record while posting a 2.28 GAA and a .912 SV%. Simply put, the 24-year-old goaltender has stepped up immensely.
Becoming a Big-Game Goaltender
There have been several examples in the playoffs where Dobeš has already proven he steps up in big moments. The one that stands out comes from Game 7 of the Canadiens first-round battle vs the Tampa Bay Lightning. In a game where the Bolts outshot the Habs by double digits, their netminder was up for the challenge. He finished stopping 28 of 29 shots as the Canadiens upset the Lightning 2-1 to move on to the second round.
Even in Game 3 of the second round vs the Buffalo Sabres, Dobeš had to be at his best. While the score was one-sided, the Sabres still put a flurry of chances on the Habs goalie. He again rose to the task, stopping 26 of 28 shots, helping Montreal get a well-deserved 2-1 series lead. If he can keep up this play, the Buffalo may be in a short series.
Deserving of Major Recognition
Dobeš was not a finalist for the Vezina Trophy for the league’s best netminder this season. While the top three certainly deserve the recognition, the Habs goalie also deserves major props. If Montreal can keep this play up, they have a high chance of making a deep playoff run in search of their first cup in 33 years.
There’s no question that Dobeš will absolutely choose being a Stanley Cup champion over an individual award. The Canadiens will go as far as their goaltender will carry them. It’s been huge for them to have him in their foxhole this entire run. A run that doesn’t show any signs of stopping anytime soon.
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