The Montreal Canadiens delivered a dominant performance Saturday night, shutting out the Florida Panthers 4-0 behind an exceptional debut from goaltender Jakub Dobes. The 23-year-old rookie from the Czech Republic stopped all 34 shots he faced, making history in his NHL debut.
Dobes, who had been excelling in the minors with a 9-3-1 record, a 2.44 goals-against average, and a .910 save percentage this season, became the first goaltender to record a shutout against the defending Stanley Cup champions in his NHL debut since Daren Puppa did so for Buffalo against Edmonton in 1985. Additionally, he became the first Canadiens netminder to earn a shutout in his debut since Yann Danis in 2005.
Kirby Dach led Montreal’s offense with his first two-goal game in nearly two years, while Cole Caufield and Jake Evans also found the back of the net. Evans’ short-handed goal late in the second period proved to be a turning point, extending the Canadiens’ lead to 3-0 and putting the game out of reach.
Alex Newhook added two assists, and the Canadiens capitalized on a Panthers team that has struggled to generate offense recently. Spencer Knight stopped 21 shots for Florida, but the Panthers were blanked in back-to-back games for the second time this month.
Saturday’s defeat marked the first time since 2003 that Florida has been shut out in consecutive home games. Their previous outing, a 4-0 loss to Tampa Bay on December 23, only compounded their recent scoring woes. Despite going 10-0-1 in games where they scored at least one goal over their last 11 contests, the Panthers have been shut out four times in that same span.
Jakub Dobes has solidified his arrival in the NHL with a historic debut. His poise and stellar performance not only secured the victory but also provided a glimpse of the Canadiens’ promising future between the pipes.
Florida’s offensive inconsistencies remain a concern. The team’s inability to generate goals, even with a talented roster, has left them in a precarious position heading into a challenging stretch.
Evans’ short-handed goal with just 2:41 left in the second period was a dagger for the Panthers, who struggled to find momentum afterward.
The Panthers are undefeated in their last 11 games when scoring at least once (10-0-1), underscoring the critical nature of their scoring drought.
The Canadiens will look to maintain their momentum as they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. The Panthers, still seeking to shake off their scoring woes, remain home to host the New York Rangers on Monday.
