Marc Dumont
The Montreal Canadiens have won five games in a row, and a significant portion of the praise must be given to their rookie netminder, Jakub Dobes.
Dobes, 24, maintained a perfect 3-0 record, while beating the Carolina Hurricanes twice, not to mention a win versus the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Not only were the games versus the Hurricanes a very encouraging example of how well the Canadiens can play if they receive proper netminding and reasonable offence, the win versus the Columbus maintained a certain amount of distance in the standings between the Habs and the Blue Jackets.
In that stretch, Dobes stopped 101 of the 104 shots sent his way, resulting in a very impressive .962 save percentage, as well as a 1.33 goals against average. He may lack NHL experience, but at the moment, he’s playing like a 10-year veteran.
Jakub Dobes, Pavel Zacha and John Carlson named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 29. #NHLStats
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) March 30, 2026
3 Stars of the Week presented by @GEICO#NHLStats: https://t.co/V0EVfQI8Oi pic.twitter.com/EFUDDoFe97
Rookie Impact
Dobes, alongside fellow rookie Jacob Fowler, has been a godsend when it comes to Montreal’s goaltending situation. With the recent wins, the Canadiens haven’t quite qualified for the playoffs, but their odds have risen to 98.9%, a rather strong indication that there will be springtime hockey in Montreal.
If numbers hold true, it will mark the second consecutive season in which the Canadiens managed to qualify for the playoffs, a considerable step forward in their long-term rebuild plans.
It’s also worth noting that Dobes has reached 25 wins in his rookie season, which is more than both Patrick Roy (23) and Carey Price (24) produced during their first year in the league.
On that note, no one expects Dobes to become a legendary netminder, however, it is strange that there’s been little to no Calder Trophy talk when it comes to his results this season.
Regardless, it’s fair to say the Canadiens have been kept afloat by their first-year netminders, with Jakub Dobes leading the rookie charge.
