Jakub Dobes earned a shutout over the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers in his NHL debut.
Saturday was a big day for former Omaha Lancer goaltender Jakub Dobes. Not only did the Czechia native make his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens, he pitched a 4-0 shutout over the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers.
The Canadiens called up Dobes from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Laval Rocket, prior to Saturday’s game. Dobes made 34 saves and became the second active goalie (minimum one game played in 2024-25) to earn a shutout in his NHL debut. He’s also the first Canadiens rookie netminder to earn a shutout in his debut since Yann Danis in 2005.
It was a truly spectacular performance in net for Dobes, who stopped 24 of the Panthers’ 34 shots over the first 40 minutes.
In 14 games this season with the Rocket, Dobes has a 9-3-1 record with a 2.44 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. In parts of two seasons with the AHL club, he has a 33-21-7 record with a .906 save percentage and 2.82 goals-against average.
Dobes was drafted in the fifth round (136th overall) by the Canadiens in the 2020 NHL Draft. He spent parts of two seasons with the Lancers, recording a 3.09 GAA and .891 SP in 21 games during the 2019-20 season. In 2020-21, he earned USHL Second Team honors with a 2.48 GAA and .908 SP.
Dobes played two seasons of NCAA hockey at Ohio State, recording a .926 SP in 75 appearances. Considering how much Cayden Primeau has struggled backing up Sam Montembeault in net, Dobes’s call-up is aptly timed. The Canadiens are also on a brutal road stretch, as they travel to Tampa Bay to play the Lightning on Sunday before moving on to Vegas for a matchup against the Golden Knights on Tuesday.
While Dobes is still developing, his NHL debut is a welcome sight for a team looking for any positive signs they can get.