Jakub Dobes brought some real excitement to the Eastern Conference Final on Thursday night, and it wasn’t about making a stop.
During a pause in the game, a fight broke out near the Canadiens’ goalkeeper. The referee came over, pointed directly at Dobes, and told him to stay away from it.
Dobes wasn’t happy with what he was told. The microphone caught how straightforward he was in that moment.
Anthony Martineau took a video of it and shared it on Thursday with just one emoji that said a lot more than a whole paragraph. The noise from the crowd says everything you need to know.
This shows how intense the series is. In Game 1 of the third round, we already have a goalie arguing with the referees before the first period is over.
This young goalie has a salary cap hit of $965,000 and a . 910 save rate over 14 playoff games this spring. He has five wins. His record is quiet, but he makes a loud impression.
Why Jakub Dobes not backing down is important for Montreal
Pierre McGuire mentioned this week that the Canadiens were lucky Dobes saved the day at times against Buffalo. He clearly noticed what people were saying about his performance and he’s reacting with confidence.
A goalie who stands his ground during fights sends a message to his defensemen without saying anything. He’s not going to be an easy target in this series.
Carolina dominated Ottawa and Philadelphia by being tough at every level. They finished the regular season with a record of 53 wins, 22 losses, and 7 ties, earning 113 points, which put them at 2nd place overall.
This is the kind of team that tests every roster’s weak spots until something breaks. Dobes just made it clear that his area is not one of those weaknesses.
Sebastian Aho’s questionable hit in the same game already raised the tension. When a goalie talks back to the referees right after that, it sets the tone for the entire series.
The stats Dobes relies on aren’t outstanding compared to traditional views. His attitude is what has helped him succeed up to this point.
A fresh goalie faceoff against Carolina in the next game is a tale that will unfold soon. Whether Dobes will encounter another referee to argue with during the game is something no one can foresee.
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