What the Puck: Canadiens fans dare to dream big as Jakub Dobes dominates Sabres

Montrealers have a new hero, and his name is Jakub Dobes.

Fans outside the Bell Centre chanted his name, and the massive crowd went wild when he made big saves, particularly in the third period as the Buffalo Sabres were desperately trying to get back into the game. Dobes appeared on the big screens when he was interviewed on the ice as the first star of the game, and the crowd just erupted.

The Czech goalie let in the first shot of the game to give the Sabres an early 1-0 lead, but he then went on to stop 26 of the next 27 shots to give Montreal a dominant 6-2 win over Buffalo. The Habs now lead the best-of-seven series 2-1, with Game 4 set for Tuesday at the Bell Centre.

Canadiens faithful take in Game 3 at watch party outside the Bell Centre on Sunday night. John Kenney / Montreal Gazette

The 6-foot-4 24-year-old is in a zone. He just radiates confidence. He was better than Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy in the first round. Vasilevskiy might have won two Stanley Cups, one Conn Smythe Trophy and one Vézina, but he was outplayed by Dobey. And his dominant play is continuing in the second round.

The first game wasn’t his best outing, but he’s been lights out in the last two games. Good enough that it’s not a stretch to mention his play is a little reminiscent of a fellow named Patrick Roy, who also had an unreal playoff run with the Habs during his rookie season. And, yeah, Montreal won the Cup that year (1986). Just saying. There’s a heck of a lot of hockey to still to play, even in this series, but 10 games in, the comparison with Roy is not out of line.

“I mean, what a story. From backup goalie and kind of all over the place and all of a sudden showing up — and still not super technically sound, but he’s there to make the big saves,” Marc Ouimette said outside the Bell Centre after Game 3 Sunday night. “And at the end, he’s talking to the crowd, and he’s just soaking it all in and just enjoying his time.”

Jessica Simard, who was in the crowd with her 6-year-old son and her husband, said the story of the night was Dobes.

“He’s such a great player, and we’re seeing him grow with the team right now,” said Simard.

James Morrison said Dobes “is the best goalie in the league. I haven’t seen someone like this since Carey Price. He’s just a different animal. He’s awesome.”

Grace Myiow, left, and Gwendolyn Gilpin used their Canadiens flag for cover outside the Bell Centre during a brief rainfall as the Canadiens played the Buffalo Sabres in Game 3 on Sunday night. John Kenney / Montreal Gazette

Alex Beaulne, who was carrying around an inflatable Stanley Cup, was the one guy in the crowd not ready to get too enthused about Dobes. Turns out he’s a hardcore Samuel Montembeault fan. Remember Monty? The dude who used to be the No. 1 goalie until he faltered big time this season and young Dobes stole his job.

Beaulne admitted Dobes did a terrific job Sunday, but he wasn’t happy when I said Montembeault will likely do well elsewhere. He wants to keep the local guy.

Of course, the win wasn’t just about Dobes. The whole team is clicking and it’s getting much-appreciated help from guys who we used to call the supporting players, notably Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach. Newhook had two goals, including an empty-netter, and Dach also scored. Newhook has five goals in these playoffs, while Dach has four. So cool. What a redemption story for Dach, who was lambasted by fans after messing up in the overtime of Game 2 against Tampa Bay, directly causing the winning goal. But Habs head coach Martin St. Louis, in maybe the defining coaching move of the run, defended his player and refused to bow to public pressure and pull him out of the lineup.

“Newy is a good guy; gets into the corner, digs deep, finds the puck, and scores some goals,” said Dave Wheeler, who, like Newhook, hails from St. John’s.

He said folks in St. John’s are super proud of their local Habs hero.

“I feel they all look up to him. Everyone looks up to a local boy who makes it big,” said Wheeler. “When you see him back home, you’d never know he played hockey. He’s very humble.”

Charles Demers and son Émile Demers watch a big screen outside the Bell Centre during Game 3 between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday night. John Kenney / Montreal Gazette

Then there’s Lane Hutson. Sunday was just another day at the office for the 22-year-old defenceman. He stunned us with his crafty moves, notably on Cole Caufield’s second-period goal, as he fed the sniper who finally scored after being snake-bitten for several games.

“Watching his skate edges, just watching his ability, and just being awestruck time and time again,” said Ouimette.

Add it all up and fans are starting to dream big, except it doesn’t even feel like a dream any more.

Dale Thomas is dreaming the dream. He knows Montreal is always the underdog. Before the Tampa series, the majority of the pundits said the Lightning was bound to win. Then before this series, there was lots of chatter that the Habs were no match for the Sabres.

“They can go all the way. I’m not scared of Carolina,” said Thomas. “The toughest team so far was Tampa Bay. That was the (Eastern) Conference final in my opinion. The Sabres are out. They don’t have anything left.”

You can’t blame Thomas for being optimistic. Montreal knocked out a team that was considered a Cup contender, and now they’ve delivered two straight beatdowns to a team that topped the Atlantic Division. But it’s only 2-1, and there are still two more games to be won. But if Dobes keeps playing like this, anything is possible.

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