‘I’ll go home, eat, watch Game of Thrones and go to bed.’: Canadiens’ Dobes downplays heroic Game 3 performance
One of the feel-good stories from these Stanley Cup Playoffs has been the play of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes, though he remains as humble as ever.
Near the end of Game 3 of the Atlantic Division Final between the Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres, with Montreal on their way to a 6-2 victory and 2-1 lead in the series, an in-arena camera found a fan holding up a sign that had Dobes’ name inside a stop sign, leading the Bell Centre faithful to rise to its feet, giving Dobes a rousing standing ovation, with the Czech netminder himself even cracking a smile.
It came near the end of Dobes’ sixth victory this postseason, turning away 28 of the 30 shots he faced. After the game, the 24-year-old was asked about his “cult hero” status among the fanbase. Dobes laughed it off, citing that he’s just a normal guy who does his job.
“I’m not a hero, I’m just me,” Dobes said. “I’m just a goofy goalie that tries to stop pucks. Trust me, I don’t call myself a hero. I will go home, eat, watch Game of Thrones and go to bed. I don’t think that’s anything heroic. When it’s time to do my job, I’ll do anything to win.”
Dobes certainly has garnered the admiration of the passionate fanbase in la belle province. He has been admired for his openness and emotion, never shying away from the task at hand. While many wondered who deserved to be the starter for the Habs in the playoffs, the rookie netminder managed to prove by the end of the regular season that he earned the No. 1 spot. He led all first-year goaltenders in wins (29), helping Montreal secure third place in the Atlantic Division.
In the playoffs, he has risen to the occasion. He outplayed Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy in Round 1, as the Canadiens took down the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games. After Sunday night’s win, he has a record of 6-4, with a 2.13 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.
Game 4 between Montreal and Buffalo is set for Tuesday night, with puck drop scheduled for a little after 7 p.m. ET