SUNRISE, Fla. — Jakub Dobes made an impressive NHL debut, stopping 34 shots and leading the Montreal Canadiens to a commanding 4-0 victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday evening. This marked a significant achievement for Dobes, a 23-year-old goalie hailing from the Czech Republic, who had previously posted a record of 9-3-1 along with a 2.44 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage during his time in the minors this season, his second as a professional player.
Dobes etched his name in the record books by becoming the first goaltender to secure a shutout against the defending Stanley Cup champions in their NHL debut since Daren Puppa did it for the Buffalo Sabres against Edmonton on November 1, 1985, according to STATS. Alongside Dobes, Kirby Dach contributed significantly with two goals, marking his first multi-goal game in almost two years. Cole Caufield and Jake Evans also found the back of the net for the Canadiens, while Alex Newhook recorded two assists during the match.
On the other side of the ice, Spencer Knight managed to make 21 saves for Florida, who unfortunately fell victim to back-to-back shutouts for the second time this month. The Panthers had previously suffered a 4-0 defeat against Tampa Bay on December 23, which set the stage for their struggle against Dobes and the Canadiens.
Highlights from the game indicate that Dobes is the first Montreal goalie to achieve a shutout in his NHL debut since Yann Danis accomplished the feat in 2005. For the Panthers, this was a notable moment as it marked the first instance since 2003 that they were shut out in consecutive home games.
A turning point in the match came with just 2:41 remaining in the second period when Jake Evans scored a short-handed goal, seemingly putting the game well out of reach for Florida. An interesting statistic reveals that the Panthers have a record of 10-0-1 in their last 11 matches where they managed to score at least once, which emphasizes the extent of their current struggles as they have faced four shutouts in that same timeframe.
Looking ahead, the Canadiens are set to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, while the Panthers will remain at home to take on the New York Rangers on Monday.
