Montreal’s playoff run is on the brink, but rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes continues to be the team’s steadying force. On his 25th birthday Wednesday, he drew the loudest ovation at Bell Centre even as the Canadiens fell 4-0 to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4, leaving Montreal down 3-1 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final. Fans chanted his nickname late in the third period, and a scoreboard shot of the goalie with about 20 seconds left had the announced crowd of 20,962 roaring despite the result.
Jakub Dobes: The Backbone of the Canadiens
Dobes stopped 40 of 42 shots and turned aside the last 30 he faced to keep a faint comeback chance alive. The damage came in a 2:47 stretch late in the first period, when Carolina scored three times on six shots: Sebastian Aho converted on the power play at 14:59, Jordan Staal tipped in a feed at 16:07 after winning the net-front battle, and Logan Stankoven finished a 2-on-1 at 17:46.
Montreal’s skaters struggled to protect their crease and generate offense, and teammates acknowledged the loss wasn’t on their goaltender. Dobes, however, spread the responsibility around, saying he would learn from the lapse and be ready for the next game.
The rookie has faced a barrage over the past three outings, seeing 107 shots, an average of 35.7 per game. He has been Montreal’s standout this postseason with nine wins in 18 games, a 2.53 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. His save rate in this series is even higher at .919, showcasing his exceptional skills under pressure.
Dobes said he remains confident in the group, leaning into the underdog label that has followed Montreal through the season and playoffs. He expects the Canadiens’ best effort in Game 5 and aims to help force the series back to Montreal for Game 6. This determination and resilience are what fans have come to admire in him.
Game 5 is Friday at Lenovo Center. As the Canadiens look to bounce back, all eyes will be on Dobes as he strives to lead his team to victory in this crucial matchup.