Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes gets honest after big Game 3 win

The Bell Centre crowd made its feelings clear on Sunday night. Chants of “Dobes! Dobes!” echoed across the arena after rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes powered the Montreal Canadiens to a dominant 6-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference Second Round.

Dobes stopped 26 shots and recovered quickly after allowing a goal just 53 seconds into the game. The young netminder settled in and frustrated Buffalo’s attack for the rest of the night. His calm play and several key second-period saves helped Montreal take control and grab a 2-1 series lead.

Despite the growing attention around him, Dobes stayed humble after the victory. When asked about becoming a “cult hero” in Montreal, the rookie brushed aside the praise with an honest answer.

“I’m not a hero,” Dobes said. “I’m just me. I’m just a goofy goalie who tries to stop pucks. And, trust me, I don’t, I, I don’t call myself a hero. I pretty much, I will go home, eat, watch Game of Thrones, and go to bed. I don’t think that’s anything heroic from there.”

The 24-year-old added that his focus remains on helping the franchise win.

“When it’s time to do my job, I will do anything to win, and make this franchise happy, make these fans happy,” Dobes said. “And hopefully, hopefully, we’ll win on Tuesday.”

Jakub Dobes continues his breakout playoff run for Canadiens

Dobes has become one of the biggest stories of Montreal’s playoff run. Selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, the rookie entered the postseason with growing confidence after a strong regular season. He posted a 29-10-4 record with a 2.78 goals-against average during the 2025-26 campaign.

Through his first 10 playoff starts, Dobes owns a 2.13 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. His strong play has energized Montreal and created a special connection with the Bell Centre crowd.