Photo credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
It’s confirmed: Martin St-Louis is playing his cards right and is sending Jakub Dobes back between the pipes for a fourth consecutive start against the Minnesota Wild.
Patrick Friolet reports that there will be no changes to Montreal’s lineup tonight. The same line combinations are being kept, a sign that the coaching staff liked the collective effort and intensity shown in the last outing.
Let’s be honest: the kid is forcing management’s hand with his poise in the crease. He’s not just stopping pucks, he’s fighting for his spot, and it shows in his body language.
We have to call it like it is—this situation sends a clear internal message about the goaltending hierarchy. In this league, the net belongs to the guy who stops the puck, period.
Dobes will need all that confidence tonight at the Xcel Energy Center. The Canadiens are dragging around a rather embarrassing burden in Minnesota: no wins there since 2011.
A golden opportunity for Jakub Dobes
“There will be no changes to the Canadiens lineup for the matchup against the Wild.
Jakub Dobes will be in goal for a 4th straight game.
The Habs will try to win in Minnesota for the first time since 2011.”
– Patrick Friolet
Breaking this 15-year streak would be a major accomplishment for the Czech goaltender. It’s exactly the kind of performance that earns you instant respect from veterans in the locker room.
The Wild are a draining team to face at home. They clog the middle of the ice, they’re big, and they give absolutely nothing for free in the neutral zone.
If the Habs want to come out on top, it will take a full 60-minute effort. The time for politeness is over— they’ll need to pay the price in front of the opposing net to cash in on rebounds.
With the salary cap and the stakes of the season, every point in the standings is valuable. St-Louis knows it, and he’s putting his chips on the goaltender who gives him the best chance to win right now.
It’s a big maturity test for this young group. Winning in a hostile arena where the organization hasn’t had success in over a decade would help forge character.
Here is the lineup for tonight:
Caufield-Suzuki-Texier
Slafkovsky-Kapanen-Demidov
Bolduc-Evans-Dach
Anderson-Danault-Gallagher
Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Dobson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Dobes
We’ll see if the Dobes magic works again tonight. One thing is certain: he won’t be lacking motivation to prove he belongs in the NHL.
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Martin St-Louis confirms Canadiens lineup ahead of tonight’s matchup vs Wild in Minnesota
Does Jakub Dobes deserve more starts than the current number-one goaltender?