Jakub Dobeš’s red-hot run in 2026 finally hit a speed bump Monday night, as the Montreal Canadiens fell 4-3 in overtime to the Minnesota Wild at Grand Casino Arena. While the loss stings, it doesn’t diminish the impressive stretch Dobeš has been on - this was his first loss since December 21, and he still hasn’t dropped a game in regulation since December 9. That’s nearly two months of stellar goaltending from the rookie, and he remains a bright spot in Montreal’s push toward the postseason.
But even with Dobeš between the pipes, the Canadiens couldn’t shake a frustrating trend that’s haunted them all season - giving up goals early. This time, it was Joel Eriksson Ek who made them pay, finding the back of the net just 38 seconds into the game on Minnesota’s very first shot. It’s the kind of gut-punch start that’s tough to recover from, especially on the road.
And if that wasn’t enough, the Wild kept pressing. At 15:48 of the first period, Kirill Kaprizov doubled the lead, finishing off a slick feed from Quinn Hughes for his first of two goals on the night. Kaprizov, true to form, was dynamic all evening - the kind of player who can tilt the ice with just a few strides.
To their credit, the Canadiens didn’t fold. They fought back to force overtime, showing the resilience that’s helped them stay competitive in a tightly packed Eastern Conference.
But the extra frame belonged to the Wild, who sealed the win and extended Montreal’s miserable run in St. Paul.
The Habs haven’t won there since 2011 - a drought that now stretches 15 years.
That said, there are still positives to take away. Dobeš stopped 20 shots and continues to show poise beyond his years.
His calm presence in net has been a stabilizing force for a Canadiens team that’s had its share of ups and downs. And while the loss snapped his personal win streak, the bigger picture remains encouraging: Montreal is still very much in the hunt, and Dobeš is a big reason why.
Now, the focus shifts to cleaning up those early lapses and finding a way to start games with more urgency. Because if the Canadiens can stop spotting opponents early leads - especially on the road - they’ve shown they have the fight and firepower to hang with anyone.