Montreal Canadiens Turn to Jakub Dobes Against Dallas Stars
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis has decided to start Jakub Dobes in goal Thursday in Dallas when the team wraps up a four-game road trip against the Stars. The decision breaks a six-game winning streak for Jacob Fowler, who started the first three games of the trip and stopped 99 of 101 shots.
Fowler earned his latest victory Tuesday night by stopping all 46 shots he faced in a 2-0 win over the St. Louis Blues. That performance improved his season record to 6-1 with a 1.54 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage.
How the Goaltending Context Unfolded
Dobes opened the season as the team’s number-one netminder but has not played since Oct. 20 at the Bell Centre. In that outing, he allowed four goals on 26 shots during a 4-3 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks, a game where he also took an interference penalty that led to Macklin Celebrini’s power-play winner. That defeat dropped Dobes’ record to 1-2-2, accompanied by a 4.47 goals-against average and an .847 save percentage.
Jakub Dobes obtiendra le départ à Dallas jeudiJakub Dobes will get the start in Dallas on Thursday#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/IfQQqhOdvC
Despite the early-season struggles, Dobes signed a three-year, US$16.05-million contract extension this summer that kicks in next season with a US$5.35-million cap hit. St. Louis defended the choice to put Dobes back in the net by pointing to workload management, travel schedules, and the physical toll of recent games. “It’s a bit of everything,” St. Louis told reporters in Dallas, citing Fowler’s heavy workload and the team’s recent travel.
Montreal shuffles skater lines before facing Dallas
Ahead of the matchup, Montreal made adjustments to its skater lineup. St. Louis moved Alex Newhook up to centre the top line between Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky during Wednesday’s practice. Oliver Kapanen shifted down to a line with Josh Anderson and Owen Beck, stepping in while forward Chris Kreider took a therapy day after blocking a shot against St. Louis.
Team rosters and stats ahead of tonight's game between the Canadiens and Stars in Dallas (8 p.m., TSN2, RDS). Jakub Dobes will start in goal for #Habs: pic.twitter.com/GnMJEHSaAh
The Canadiens face a formidable defensive test against Dallas and goaltender Jake Oettinger. Oettinger holds a .929 save percentage through nine starts, backed by a Dallas defense that allows an average of just 22.2 shots per game. Montreal enters the contest holding a 7-3-2 record and second place in the Atlantic Division.
Broadcast Details and Schedule
Game 13 begins at 8:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM PDT. Viewers in the Canadiens region can watch on TSN2 in English and RDS in French, while those in the Stars region can watch via Prime Video. Streaming options include TSN+ and RDS in Canada, and ESPN+ in the United States. Following Thursday’s game, the Canadiens return home to host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday at the Bell Centre for the first of three straight home games.
Common Questions About the Goalie Decision
Why did the Canadiens bench Jacob Fowler after a shutout?
Coach Martin St. Louis cited Fowler’s heavy workload, recent travel, and the physical demands of stopping 46 shots against St. Louis as factors in giving him a rest.
When did Jakub Dobes last play an NHL game?
Dobes last started on Oct. 20 against the San Jose Sharks, where he stopped 22 of 26 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss at the Bell Centre.
Here's what the Habs had to say at practice 🎙️Listen ↓ #GoHabsGo https://t.co/KdKtgado16
What is Jakub Dobes’ contract status with Montreal?
Dobes is earning US$965,000 this season on his current deal, and a three-year, US$16.05-million extension with a US$5.35-million cap hit will begin next year.
How have Montreal and Dallas fared against each other historically?
The Stars hold a 3-1-1 record in their last five games against the Canadiens, having split two meetings last season.
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis turns to Jakub Dobes Thursday in Dallas https://t.co/B51WiIH0Nv pic.twitter.com/iNXCSvkpYX
My story on Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis deciding to start Jakub Dobes in goal Thursday night in Dallas against Stars despite Jacob Fowler winning his last six starts #Habs: https://t.co/0ScEv8JYNK
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