Jakub Dobes left the Canadiens with a win over Utah, but one strange moment in the game is getting just as much attention as the result.
Montreal came out on top 5-4 in overtime, with Cole Caufield burying the winner. Dobes was in net for the full ride and turned aside 16 of the 20 shots he faced, a line that won’t jump off the page for all the right reasons. Even so, it still counts as another victory for the young goalie, and that’s the part that matters most for now.
The sequence that has people buzzing came on the power play, when Dobes appeared to lose track of what was happening for a brief moment. It’s not the first time this season he’s had one of those head-scratching lapses, and some analysts are starting to take notice. Maxime Truman of DansLesCoulisses put it bluntly:
"Damn, Dobes is confused.
He’s wondering why there’s no icing... when his team’s on the power play!"
The reaction was sharp, but not cruel, and the bigger picture still matters. Dobes is only in his seventh game of the season and has played just 66 NHL games overall, so there’s still plenty of learning left in his game.
The Canadiens, meanwhile, are in a strong spot at 10-3-3. That record has them sixth overall in the NHL and second in the Atlantic Division, which gives Dobes some room to breathe as he settles in.
Martin St-Louis has already made it clear he trusts the young goaltender and plans to keep giving him starts. Montreal’s 5-2 win in Dallas also stands out as Dobes’ first victory since the season opener, and he said afterward that he felt comfortable right from the start. His teammates responded with a standing ovation.
For now, the message is simple: a brief lapse can be cleaned up, and a 25-year-old goalie is going to have moments like this. The Canadiens head to Toronto tomorrow, and Dobes will need to answer on the ice.
In Other News...
Canadiens Game Just Took A Turn After Key Utah Blue-Liner Exit
The game between Montreal and Utah took a notable turn in the second period when the Mammoth lost veteran defenseman Nate Schmidt to an upper-body injury. Schmidt, who brings plenty of NHL experience to Utahs blue line, was ruled out for the rest of the night after the team confirmed he would not return.
Utah did not offer any further details on the injury or say exactly when Schmidt exited, leaving the situation a little murky as the game moved on. For Montreal, any absence on the back end can change the look of a matchup quickly, especially against a defenseman with Schmidts track record and steady presence. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Face A Growing Problem Ahead Of Montreal
The Maple Leafs are still tinkering with their forward mix as they get ready for Montreal, a sign of a lineup that is trying to settle itself at just the right time. Jack Roslovic was given a maintenance day, and Vinni Lettieri moved into a prominent spot as Toronto looks for more balance up front. Head coach Jim Hiller has made it clear the issue is not just who is available, but how long the club is spending in its own end.
For Montreal, the bigger picture is that Toronto is still managing a few moving parts while trying to sharpen its attack. John Tavares is moving forward in his recovery, but his return is not imminent until he clears the next checkpoint. The Maple Leafs want cleaner offensive-zone play and less defending, and the Canadiens will be watching to see whether those adjustments hold up once the puck drops. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Lineup Crunch Is Putting Real Pressure On Martin St-Louis
Martin St-Louis is running into a good problem, but it is still a problem. With captain Nick Suzuki back in the lineup and Kirby Dach also returning to health, the Canadiens coach had to make some difficult calls, and Suzuki immediately rewarded the decision with a goal and two assists in his first game back.
The bigger issue for Montreal is what happens next, because the roster is getting deeper at the same time other players have earned their way into the conversation. St-Louis has already acknowledged how hard these choices are, and as more bodies become available, the Canadiens may be heading toward even tougher lineup decisions. [Read more 🡒]