With Game 4 between the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals rapidly approaching, it`s looking likely that neither starting goaltender from the series opener will be guarding the net at the Bell Centre.
Both team coaches confirmed on Saturday that they were awaiting injury updates on their respective starting goalies, who both exited Friday`s Game 3 due to apparent ailments. Despite the uncertainty, both coaches conveyed confidence in the backup netminders expected to step in for Game 4.
For the Canadiens, Jakub Dobes is anticipated to take over for Samuel Montembeault. The team doesn`t seem concerned that this will be only Dobes` 17th career appearance at the NHL level.
Their confidence is partly based on Dobes` performance in Game 3, where he stopped seven of eight shots after being thrust into action, with the only goal against being a difficult chance by Alex Ovechkin. Furthermore, the 23-year-old had a strong start to his NHL career earlier in the season, winning five consecutive games against tough opponents including the Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, and even the Capitals.
Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle expressed full belief in Dobes: “I think his first game, he gets thrown in against the defending Stanley Cup champs, gets a shutout,” Guhle recalled. “I think his first three or four games, I think they were all some of the top teams in the league, and he played well. So, I have all the confidence in the world in Dobes. He’s got a lot of confidence in himself, which you need as a young goalie coming into the league. I think he believes that there’s no moment too big for him. I think he wants this moment. I think he’s ready for anything that’s thrown at him.”
Dobes, who hails from Ostrava, Czechia, faced a sudden challenge when Montembeault signaled him to warm up early in the second period of Game 3. Stepping into the most electric atmosphere he`d ever experienced, Dobes later confessed to a rush of emotions after securing the win, saying he felt fear, excitement, and even cried, describing himself as “a mess.”
Despite the emotional weight of the situation, the six-foot-four goaltender appeared poised during the game and remains confident about the likely start ahead. “I know my routine. I know I’m a good goalie. I love these moments more than anything,” Dobes stated confidently. “I guess I was prepared, and I will prepare again, and we’ll see what happens on Sunday.”
Across the ice for Washington, former Canadiens goaltender Charlie Lindgren is the probable starter. The Capitals` initial starter, Logan Thompson, struggled to bear weight on his left leg after a collision with teammate Dylan Strome during the sequence leading up to Juraj Slafkovsky’s crucial goal in the 54th minute of Game 3.
Ultimately, the outcome of this pivotal playoff matchup, and potentially the series itself, could very well be decided by which backup goaltender delivers the stronger performance.
