2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: Jakub Dobeš Emerging as Canadiens' Long-Term Answer in Goal

BUFFALO — Let's think back to when the Montréal Canadiens stunned many around the league by making the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. They managed to do so thanks to their young players and Samuel Montembeault's play in goal.

It's why Jakub Dobeš's stranglehold on the position is all the more incredible now.

Watching Dobeš handle himself, helping the Canadiens roar into the playoffs this season, and now advancing to the second round, has shown he's indeed the real deal. Despite being a rookie this season, albeit with some considerable experience last season, he's given the goalie position the steady play they've been waiting for since Carey Price's career came to an end.

During the regular season, Dobeš went 29-10-4 with a .901 save percentage. Last season in spot start duty, he went 7-4-3 with a .909 save percentage and a shutout and appeared in three playoff games against the Washington Capitals, including two starts, with a 1-2 record as the Habs went down in five games. Getting that kind of experience allowed him to seize the net this season after Montembeault dealt with injury and struggles early on. Top prospect Jacob Fowler was recalled, joining the fray in net.

With all that competition, especially from a fellow young player with a pedigree like Fowler, Dobeš has prevailed and thrived.

"I think he brings a lot of energy to our team, plays with a lot of confidence," Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson said. "He kind of exudes a lot of swagger into our lineup."

Even more importantly, Dobeš has become the Canadiens' stopper in the playoffs. After leading Montréal to a 5-1 win in Game 2 against the Buffalo Sabres, he improved his record in the playoffs to 4-0 following a Canadiens loss.

The playoffs offer a short window to either get things right or get out of the way, but Dobeš has helped ensure one loss doesn't turn into two in a row and put the series in danger. Earlier this week, he helped the Canadiens win a Game 7 on the road in Tampa, and now he's helped take back home-ice advantage against Buffalo.

"You play Game 7, I feel like we didn't have much chance to prepare and kind of settle everything together and reset our minds," Dobeš said. "I feel that now we are into the series and we can focus on Buffalo and I feel Game 1 just didn't personally for me felt interesting when you play seven games against a team that every game is a Game 7. And then the team that we play right now is totally different."

Game 1 could've been a nightmare after he allowed four goals on the Sabres' first nine shots of the game, but settling down, forgetting about it, and moving on is what makes the best goalies tick. Game 2 was busier and even involved a bit of a wrestling match with Sabres forward Zach Benson at one point in the crease.

"He's a competitor," Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. "That's all he's doing is competing out there, and I feel like he's doing that and being himself."

Dobeš also doesn't shy away from the action in and around the net, something teammates even get caught off guard by, given that he's a goalie and goalies generally don't mix it up like that.

"That's him. He competes," Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovský said. "When you compete, sometimes you get sucked (in). Did he hit somebody? Probably. I think that's good, you know? That gives him confidence. We've got five guys out there who are going to help him no matter what."

Goalies are a different breed, and all that, sure, but the goalie that joins in the fight can't be focused… can they?

"I think he likes it for some reason," Canadiens forward Jake Evans said. "Most goalies usually stay away and let the other guys take care of it… I think when he gets poked around, it makes him even better."

If all it takes for the Canadiens to push on in the playoffs is to have Jakub Dobeš mix it up now and again, they'll take it. For now, they can breathe a lot easier knowing that he'll be there to help them lock down games after losses and just might be the guy to do that for this up-and-coming power in the league for years to come.