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In yet another memorable chapter for the Montreal Canadiens, netminder Jakub Dobes took center stage in his NHL debut on Saturday, delivering a show-stopping 34-save shutout to secure a 4-0 victory over the Florida Panthers. With the odds stacked against him, Dobes outperformed expectations, saving 2.21 goals above expected at all strengths—an impressive feat against the reigning Stanley Cup champions on their own turf, as per Natural Stat Trick data. This makes Dobes only the fifth goalie in Canadiens history to lock in a shutout in his first NHL outing, a remarkable achievement noted by NHL’s George Richards.

At just 23, Dobes was warmly congratulated by his teammates after the game—a triumphant debut that’s already etched into his career highlights. His performance was captured and celebrated across social media, with TSN highlighting the achievement in a blazing post that encapsulates the excitement around his performance.

The Canadiens complemented Dobes’ stellar saves with a strong offensive performance in the second period, netting three goals. Kirby Dach led the charge with a pair, while Jake Evans continued his hot streak, netting a shorthanded goal to mark his fourth consecutive game scoring. Capping off the night with style, Cole Caufield found the back of the net on a partial breakaway with less than six minutes to spare, rounding off the 4-0 triumph.

Spencer Knight, manning the crease for the Panthers as a backup, faced 24 shots and was unfortunate to have four solutions found against him. Dobes, on the other hand, was tested with 10 or more shots in every period, with his standout performance coming in the second period with 14 saves.

Called up just the day before from the AHL, Dobes got his chance after the Canadiens made the decision to place Cayden Primeau on waivers, intending to loan him to the Laval Rocket. Drafted by Montreal in the fifth round back in 2020, Dobes’ debut doesn’t just blend into a successful recent streak for the Canadiens, who have clinched four wins in their last five games.

For the Panthers, this defeat marks a concerning trend—two back-to-back games ending in 4-0 losses, leaving the team in need of some reflection and regrouping. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on both these teams for how they navigate their upcoming challenges.