With a very tough three-game home stand on deck before their annual California trip, the Montreal Canadiens were at the Bell Centre on Saturday night to host the New Jersey Devils. They stared down two separate two-goal deficits, overcoming them to force an ill-fated overtime period. Though they succumbed in overtime, they were able to earn a single point to start their home stand.
Despite some very evident rough patches for the Habs in that game, Jakub Dobes was able to keep them around long enough to earn that single point.
Jakub Dobes are you KIDDING me?
— Matt Drake (@drakemt.bsky.social) January 25, 2025 at 10:42 PM
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Dobes had to overcome some personal adversity in this game as well. He allowed an objectively bad goal to Jesper Bratt in the first period – a weak backhander from near the top of the circle. Immediately after that goal went in, Dobes was visibly frustrated with himself, but showed some incredible fortitude in putting that goal behind him extremely quickly. New Jersey found nothing easy against him from there out, and his 40 saves helped the Habs salvage a point by getting to overtime.
The Habs as a team had to overcome some self-imposed adversity in the form of how they played after the opening few minutes. Dobes playing as well as he did afforded them the opportunity to play themselves out of their funk. Even after they turned it around and clawed their way back into the game, it felt like they were playing for overtime in the back half of the third period, and once again Dobes was there to get them through some difficult moments.
The goaltending situation in Montreal has become quite interesting. With Dobes and Samuel Montembeault, they have two goaltenders who can give them the chance to win on any given night, even when they don’t play their best in front of them.
You expect that from your starter in the NHL, but with Dobes, the Habs are benefitting from it no matter who they roll with.
Click the play button below to listen to your full Bottom Six Minutes, also available wherever you get your podcasts. We’ll be back on Tuesday night as the home stand will continue for the Habs with the Winnipeg Jets visiting the Bell Centre.
