Jakub Dobes Stops 28 Shots as Canadiens Edge Lightning 2-1 in Game 7

Key facts

• Dobes made 28 saves on 29 shots in Game 7.
• Montreal had only 9 shots on goal; Tampa Bay had 29.
• Dobes finished the series 4-3 with a 2.03 GAA and.923 SV%.
• Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy had a 2.18 GAA and.897 SV% in the series.
• Montreal advances to face the Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference Second Round.
• Dobes told Kucherov, 'I know you guys are nervous,' after being chirped at all game.

A Rookie Stands Tall in the Decisive Game

Jakub Dobes, the 24-year-old Montreal Canadiens goaltender who seized the starting job in January, delivered a 28-save performance in a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, clinching the Eastern Conference First Round series in Game 7. The win sends Montreal to the second round for the first time since 2021, where they will face the Buffalo Sabres. Dobes was named the game's first star, but his teammates had a surprise waiting: a shower of shaving cream from fellow goalies Jacob Fowler and Sam Montembeault. 'About the shaving cream, we have a great group of guys, a great group of goalies,' Dobes said, laughing. 'I can't wait for next practice. I'll have something prepared for them.'

Montreal's Offensive Drought Tests Dobes

The Canadiens managed only nine shots on goal in the entire game, failing to register a single shot in the second period—a span of 26 minutes and 55 seconds. Despite the offensive silence, Dobes kept Montreal in the contest, routinely turning aside Tampa Bay's pressure. The only goal he allowed came on a deflection by Dominic James. Montreal's offense finally broke through in the third period. Nick Suzuki scored, and Alex Newhook provided the decisive goal midway through the frame, batting at a loose puck behind the net that somehow eluded Vasilevskiy. 'Many times during the season the guys bail me out and help me out,' Dobes said. 'Sometimes they don't play good, sometimes I don't play good. They've always got my back and I've always got theirs.'

Dobes Outduels Vasilevskiy in the Crease

Over the seven-game series, Dobes posted a 2.03 goals-against average and a.923 save percentage, outperforming future Hall of Famer Andrei Vasilevskiy, who had a 2.18 GAA and.897 SV%. Dobes's consistency was critical; he started all seven games and went 4-3. In Game 5, he stopped 38 of 40 shots in a 3-2 win that gave Montreal a 3-2 series lead. 'Dobes is one of the hockey gods,' said Canadiens forward Phillip Danault. The rookie's regular-season numbers were also strong: in 43 appearances, he went 29-10-4 with a.901 save percentage and a 2.78 GAA.

Trash Talk with Kucherov Reveals Confidence

During the second-period intermission, a camera captured an exchange between Dobes and Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov as they skated off the ice. Speaking to the NHL on TNT crew after the game, Dobes revealed what was said. 'He was probably chirping at me a lot almost every single period. He said something, and I said pretty much, 'I know you guys are nervous,' and that was the end of the conversation.' Dobes explained his mindset: 'I just wanted to show him that I'm confident, too. He's an elite player, but we have really good players, too, and we don't lack confidence in our locker room. This kind of stuff is only going to make us better.'

Second-Round Matchup: Canadiens vs. Sabres

Montreal will face the Buffalo Sabres in an all-Atlantic Division second-round series. Buffalo advanced by defeating the Boston Bruins in six games. the series is a true pick 'em, with odds set at -110 for each team. The Sabres and Canadiens are two of the youngest and most talented teams in the league, promising a competitive series. 'If the Canadiens are going to win this series, then it will take a complete team effort,' noted one analyst. Dobes's continued strong play in net will be crucial. His confidence, already high after beating the Lightning and trading words with Kucherov, is expected to reach another level.

Lundqvist's Ranking Draws Scrutiny

Earlier in the playoffs, NHL legend Henrik Lundqvist ranked Dobes seventh among Eastern Conference starting goaltenders still in the postseason, placing him below every other netminder on the list. At the time, Dobes had a 3-2-0 record, a.903 save percentage, and a 2.49 GAA in five appearances. Given his subsequent Game 7 performance and series numbers, the ranking appears questionable. Dobes's development has been rapid. He took a significant step forward during the regular season, and his playoff performance has cemented his role as Montreal's goaltender of the present and future. The Canadiens will now look to him to lead them past the Sabres and deeper into the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The bottom line

• Jakub Dobes made 28 saves in Game 7, leading Montreal to a 2-1 win over Tampa Bay and a series victory.
• Montreal managed only nine shots on goal, yet won thanks to Dobes's goaltending and a third-period goal by Alex Newhook.
• Dobes posted a 2.03 GAA and.923 SV% in the series, outperforming Andrei Vasilevskiy's 2.18 GAA and.897 SV%.
• Dobes revealed he told Nikita Kucherov, 'I know you guys are nervous,' during a second-period exchange.
• Montreal advances to face the Buffalo Sabres in the second round, with oddsmakers calling the series a pick 'em.
• Henrik Lundqvist ranked Dobes seventh among Eastern Conference starting goalies, a ranking that now seems low given his performance.