Since the retirement of goaltender Carey Price, the Montreal Canadiens have been looking for that number one goaltender between the pipes. Samuel Montembeault has played well this season but has had his faults and may not be number-one material. Cayden Primeau has been up and down and may not be above a backup role. However, Jakub Dobes has come in and played extremely well. Although he has played only three NHL games, he has looked confident in leading this group to victories. He may not be a starter yet, but he is making a serious case for future reference as he develops into a regular NHL goaltender.
Canadiens' Dobes turning heads early
Dobes is 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds and is from Ostrava, Czech Republic. He was drafted by Montreal 136th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. He turned pro with the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League two seasons ago and turned quickly into a quality goaltender, capable of putting wins together. In those two years with Laval, he complied a record of 33-21-7 with a .908 save percentage and a 2.65 goals-against average, all stats that could catch the attention of the parent Canadiens club. He did just that as he made his NHL debut against the current Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers. Any player at any position making his NHL debut may go through nerves and make some mistakes, but not Dobes. He posted a 34-save shutout and made it known he wanted a spot on the Montreal roster.
He has played a total of five games in the NHL with Montreal, winning them all. He shutout Florida 4-0, beat the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in a shootout, and the Washington Capitals 3-2 in overtime. He has has given up a total of four goals against three of the top teams in the league. Talk about making a statement.
His totals read as a 5-0 record, a 1.55 goals-against average, a .940 save percentage, one shutout, and 126 saves. Yes, he has played only five games, but he has the confidence to beat any NHL team after the display he has put up so far. While he still has to fully develop and get more playing time, he has given the Canadiens a quiet confidence that they can trust him in net. Is this too early to name him the starter? Yes, but he can be a solid backup until his time comes.
His winning streak is small but impressive. He will have his growing pains and bad games like any other goalie in the NHL but this streak does a lot for his confidence going forward. He may not be the next Jacques Plante, Patrick Roy, or Price, but he can be as solid as they were in net. Does he have the endurance and willpower to surpass Ray Emery's NHL record nine straight wins to start an NHL career? It remains to be seen but for now, he has the attention of Montreal management, his teammates and fellow goaltender Montembeault.