Under the blinding lights of Scotiabank Arena, with a sea of blue and white roaring for another Maple Leafs victory, a new hero emerged—Jakub Dobes, the Canadiens’ rookie goaltender, stood tall like a fortress no one could penetrate. Saturday night in Toronto was supposed to be another chapter in the Leafs’ winning streak, but instead, it became the stage for a shocking twist in Montreal’s season, the kind that leaves fans and insiders scrambling for answers.

Dobes, just 24 years old, didn’t simply play well—he stole the show, turning away wave after wave of Toronto’s elite forwards. Each save was a statement, each denial a challenge to the established order. By the time the shootout ended and the Canadiens skated off with a 2-1 victory, it was clear: something monumental was happening in Montreal’s crease, and nobody could ignore it any longer.

But the story goes far deeper than a single win. For the second time in two weeks, Dobes has left the Maple Leafs frustrated, allowing only three goals on 49 shots across both matchups—numbers that border on the unbelievable given Toronto’s firepower. Suddenly, the narrative around the Canadiens’ goaltending has shifted, and the questions swirling behind closed doors have become impossible to avoid.

As Cole Caufield and Alexandre Texier delivered clutch goals, the real drama unfolded between the pipes. Dobes, with his calm intensity and athletic saves, has injected new life into a team desperately fighting to stay in the playoff race. Montreal now boasts a 15-9-3 record, riding a wave of confidence thanks to five wins in their last seven games—two of which were sealed in shootouts with Dobes as the last line of defense.

Yet, as the Canadiens celebrate another triumph, a dilemma looms for head coach Martin St-Louis. Samuel Montembeault, the veteran expected to anchor the net, has stumbled through a rocky start, his numbers sagging under the weight of mounting pressure. For a franchise where goalie debates are daily headline material, Dobes’ emergence is both a blessing and a ticking time bomb.

St-Louis faces a decision that could define the season: stick with the hot hand in Dobes, or give Montembeault a chance to reclaim his spot at a delicate moment? The answer isn’t just about stats—it’s about the future of Montreal’s goaltending, the chemistry in the locker room, and the message sent to a fanbase hungry for stability.

What happens next? Has Dobes truly stolen the number-one job, or is this just a flash in the pan before Montembeault returns to form? With the playoff race tightening and every point crucial, Montreal’s crease has become the center of a storm—one that could reshape the team’s destiny.

The answers, the controversy, and the repercussions are all waiting just beyond the next paragraph. If you want to know how this goalie saga unfolds—and what it means for the Canadiens’ pursuit of glory—keep reading. The drama in Montreal is only just beginning.

Photo of Jakub Dobes

Photo credit: All Montreal Hockey / NHL

Saturday night in Toronto, Jakub Dobes seriously changed the game for the Canadiens.

Against the Maple Leafs, the young 24-year-old goaltender stole the show again. He allowed only one goal on 23 shots and shut the door in the shootout to complete a 2-1 victory.

Cole Caufield scored on the power play and again in the shootout, while Alexandre Texier recorded the stunning one-handed game-winner.

The Leafs, meanwhile, saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. This success comes two weeks after the 5-2 win at the Bell Centre, also against Toronto, where Dobes had stopped 24 of the 26 shots directed at him. In two games this season against the Maple Leafs, he has therefore allowed only three goals on 49 shots, for a monstrous save percentage against one of the best forward groups in the league.

With this other victory, the Canadiens now hold a record of 15-9-3 and 33 points, good enough to stay in the heart of the playoff race in the Atlantic. The Habs have won five of their last seven games and their two most recent in the shootout, each time with Dobes in net.

Martin St-Louis will have a decision to make

Conversely, Samuel Montembeault is going through a more complicated stretch. His 5-6-1 record, 3.61 goals-against average, and .861 save percentage illustrate a rocky start to the season for the 29-year-old goaltender.

And we know how much, in Montreal, the goalie situation sparks conversation every single day. At the start of the season, Martin St-Louis spoke of a clear split during back-to-back games. But after two consecutive nights in which Dobes delivered 51 saves on 54 shots and two shootout victories, the reality is simple: the young goaltender has just put himself back at the center of the discussion.

St-Louis had indicated Monty might start Sunday against the Blues, but regardless of who gets the nod, the message will be a strong one.

Either St-Louis throws Montembeault back in during a delicate moment, or he confirms that, for now, it is Dobes who has stolen the number-one job. For once, in Montreal, it is a good problem to have in net.