TAMPA — Jakub Dobes was the hero of the night, earning first-star honors in the Montreal Canadiens’ hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference First Round series on Sunday. The rookie goaltender made 28 saves to keep his team alive and send the Canadiens into the second round.
Despite generating just nine shots on goal all game, Montreal found a way to win thanks to Dobes’ stellar performance between the pipes. He kept the Canadiens in it during long stretches without offense, including a 26:55 span with no shots on goal. Captain Nick Suzuki opened the scoring in the first period, and the team held on for the series-clinching victory.
The 24-year-old Dobes, who only earned the starting job in January, posted impressive numbers for the series with a 2.03 goals-against average and .923 save percentage—outshining even Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy. After the win, his fellow goalies Jacob Fowler and Sam Montembeault gave him a fun shaving cream shower in celebration, leaving Dobes laughing and already planning some payback at the next practice.
“This group has my back, and I’ve got theirs,” Dobes said. “That’s our mentality.”
Montreal will now face the Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Canadiens showed resilience throughout the series, and Dobes’ growth has been a big part of their success. As Suzuki noted, the young goalie has gained tremendous confidence and is ready for the next challenge ahead.
A huge night for the Canadiens organization and their fans as they keep their playoff run going.