Jakub Dobes Delivers in Overtime Thriller as Canadiens Snap Skid Against Vegas
On a night when the Canadiens desperately needed a spark, it was Jakub Dobes who stepped into the spotlight - and didn’t blink. Making his first start in a week, the rookie goaltender turned in one of his most composed and clutch performances of the season, backstopping Montreal to a 3-2 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights at the Bell Centre.
Forget the save percentage for a moment - yes, it sat at .887 heading into the game, ranking 50th in the league - but Dobes continues to do what matters most: win. With the victory, he improved to 16-5-3 on the season, and he’s now unbeaten in regulation in his last six starts (5-0-1). This was his first career appearance against Vegas, and he made it count.
Dobes’ night wasn’t without adversity. He gave up the game’s opening goal less than nine minutes in, allowing a score on Vegas’ seventh shot.
Later, with under four minutes left in regulation and the Canadiens clinging to a lead, Vegas tied it up - the kind of moment that’s crushed Montreal late in games this season. But Dobes stood tall.
He stopped 32 of 34 shots overall, including 12 of 13 in a tense third period, finishing with a .941 save percentage on the night.
In short, he gave the Canadiens a chance to win - and they took it.
Montreal came into Tuesday night having lost two straight in regulation, something that hadn’t happened since early December. That 22-game stretch without back-to-back regulation losses ended in Boston over the weekend, and the pressure was mounting. Dobes’ performance helped ease that tension, if only temporarily, and gave the home crowd something to rally around.
Next up? A date with the league-leading Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. Based on what we saw against Vegas, it would be hard to justify anyone other than Dobes getting the nod in net.
Caufield Keeps Cooking
Cole Caufield continues to be the offensive engine for this Canadiens team. He gave Montreal a 2-1 lead in the second period, scoring his ninth goal in his last six games.
That tally also marked his 30th of the season - and he got there in just 53 games. That pace puts him in elite company: he’s the fastest Canadiens player to hit the 30-goal mark since Stéphane Richer did it back in the 1989-90 season.
And yes, this is the same Caufield who was left off the U.S. Olympic roster. Go figure.
He nearly had another highlight-reel moment later in the second period, appearing to score with a broken stick. But after a coach’s challenge, the goal was wiped off the board due to an offside call. Still, Caufield’s impact was undeniable throughout the game.
Breaking the Bell Centre Curse
Tuesday’s win also snapped a long drought for the Canadiens at home against Vegas. It was their first regular-season win over the Golden Knights at the Bell Centre since January 18, 2020. That’s a stat that won’t show up on many highlight reels, but it’s a meaningful footnote for a team looking to build confidence in front of its home fans.
Other Notables from the Night
- Turnover Trouble: Ivan Demidov has been one of the Canadiens’ most consistent performers, but even he wasn’t immune to mistakes. A rare miscue on the puck led directly to Vegas’ opening goal.
- Bolduc’s Goal Drought Continues - Kind Of: Zachary Bolduc is now 16 games without a goal, but he did contribute on the scoresheet. His shot from the side boards was redirected by Phillip Danault past Akira Schmid for Montreal’s first goal of the night.
- Pass of the Night: Mitch Marner - who heard it from the crowd every time he touched the puck - delivered a slick setup to Pavel Dorofeyev in the second period. It was a bang-bang play, but Dobes was equal to the task, flashing the glove to keep the game tied.
This was a gritty, much-needed win for a Canadiens team that’s had its share of ups and downs. And while the headlines will rightfully focus on Dobes and Caufield, this was a collective effort. The kind of game that can reset a locker room’s energy - especially with a heavyweight opponent coming to town next.
Thursday night against Colorado will be a major test. But if Dobes gets the call again - and he should - the Canadiens have every reason to believe they can hang with the best.