Jakub Dobeš Emotional After OT Loss, Canadiens Need To Manage Expectations

Jakub Dobeš’ postgame interview on Thursday night was a tough moment — not for what he said, but for how much he clearly cared. The 24-year-old Canadiens goaltender fought back tears after allowing four goals on 28 shots in a 4–3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils, blaming himself for the defeat.

“We played good enough to win,” Dobeš said, his voice breaking. “Just not good enough from my side. I don’t know, just really hard. This is a tough one. Just sucks… It happened last year, it happened this year… Just disappointed in myself.”

The emotional reaction came after Jesper Bratt slipped a backhander through Dobeš’ pads just 93 seconds into overtime — the young netminder’s first loss of any kind this season. Even so, his numbers remain elite: a 6-0-1 record, .920 save percentage, and 2.25 goals-against average, ranking near the top of the NHL.

Head coach Martin St-Louis acknowledged Dobeš’ frustration but said it’s part of what makes him special. “Everybody handles situations differently and he took it hard. It’s probably a big reason why he’s at this level — he’s demanding of himself.”

Noah Dobson commented on Dobes as well, saying, “He’s hard on himself. I think he’s played great hockey. He keeps things light, but when we get to the rink and he’s starting, he’s a gamer, and you see that out there. His compete level on every play is high. We all have his back. He’s been great for us all year.”

Dobes is one of the reasons behind Montreal’s 9-3-2 start and first-place standing in the Atlantic Division. One bad goal and a tough loss certainly isn’t the end of the world and the Canadiens will need to ensure that he understands that.

Do the Canadiens Have A Challenge On Their Hands With Dobes?

It’s great to see how much a player cares. The fact that Dobes wants to win, is upset when he doesn’t, and is willing to take responsibility are all good things. That is, up to a certain point. The Canadiens will need to help their young goaltender balance his perfectionism with perspective.

One loss doesn’t change the fact that Dobeš has quickly become one of the team’s most reliable and important players. Montreal is a tough market, and the Canadiens’ other goaltender, Sam Montembeault, is feeling the weight of that spotlight right now. What the Habs don’t need is a goalie who crumbles under the pressure, because it’s not going away.

The Canadiens return home Saturday to host the Utah Mammoth, with Dobeš likely eager for redemption. The hope is that he can learn from losses and shake things off quickly.

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