Jakub Dobes and Martin St-Louis left Game 4 with their season on the line. The Canadiens are down three games to one, and this felt worse than just an ordinary loss.
Carolina defeated Montreal 4-0 on Wednesday night at the Bell Centre, putting the Canadiens close to being eliminated.
Game 5 will take place in Raleigh on Friday.
What really got people talking was what Dobes said after the game because he didn’t seem discouraged.
He focused on his connection with the fans rather than the score, and that is why the fans appreciated it.
“It’s been amazing. My family is here, and they are really enjoying it. The fans mean a lot to me for sure. ”
This statement had a big impact because Montreal had struggled for long periods in the game.
Carolina outshot Montreal 43-18, and Frederik Andersen saved all 18 shots for his third shutout in the playoffs.
Dobes gave the Canadiens a chance early on, but then they were overwhelmed by a tough first period.
Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal, and Logan Stankoven scored in just under three minutes, and that decided the game.
Montreal’s bigger issue is that it seems like trying hard isn’t enough in this series.
Comments started flooding in, criticizing the Canadiens for their lack of effort while praising Dobes.
The Hurricanes have won three games in a row, and the Canadiens have mostly been outplayed in the last three games.
Dobes gave the fans at the Bell Centre a moment of excitement, not a full comeback.
That’s why what Dobes said really caught people’s attention.
He didn’t show any signs of panic and didn’t give a boring answer after losing a game when their season was almost over.
When the puck hit the post behind Montreal’s open net, the fans at Bell Centre cheered loudly and began chanting Dobes’ name.
That reaction shows a lot about the current state of this team. The Canadiens didn’t have control of the game, yet Dobes still emerged as the most important player in the arena.
This is significant because St-Louis doesn’t have many options left to try.
Montreal ended the regular season with 48 wins, 24 losses, and 10 ties, but this matchup has become a tough learning experience in speed, pressure, and holding onto the puck against a Carolina team that went 53 wins, 22 losses, and 7 ties.
Dobes’ performance is still impressive. He made 39 saves in Game 4, and during the 2025-26 playoffs, his save percentage is at . 910.
So, yes, the Canadiens look almost done for.
However, if Montreal has one last effort in them, it likely starts with the goalie who made a tough loss into the most exciting moment in the arena.
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