Jakub Dobes injury scare could not come at a worse time for Canadiens
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Cimon Asselin
Mar 29, 2026 (5:55 PM)
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Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Jakub Dobes left the crease late in the first period as Martin St-Louis now waits on a situation that could shake the Canadiens.
The sequence came in the final seconds. Dobes made a sharp save, then stayed down longer than usual.
He got up slowly and immediately started shaking his right leg. That's where the concern kicked in.
He still made his way off the ice, but not with his usual pace. No clear signal yet from the bench.
Montreal was already trailing 1-0, trying to survive a heavy push from Carolina.
The Hurricanes controlled the period with a 13-6 edge in shots, forcing Dobes into a high-volume start.
That context matters. This wasn't a quiet opening frame for the Canadiens' goaltender.
A potential turning point for Montreal
If Dobes is injured and can't return, this becomes a very bad development for Montreal.
This team is in the middle of a tight race, sitting at 92 points and pushing for position in the Atlantic.
Losing your goaltender mid-game or longer changes everything.
Martin St-Louis now has a decision looming before the second period. Go back to Dobes if he's cleared, or hand the crease to a cold backup.
That switch can ripple through the bench. Defensemen play tighter. Breakouts get safer. The attack can stall.
Carolina already struck on the power play, with Andrei Svechnikov opening the scoring.
And the special teams gap showed early. The Hurricanes went 1-for-1, while Montreal didn't get an opportunity.
If Dobes is limited, it adds pressure immediately. Not just on the next save, but on every shift in front of him.
And if he can't go at all, Montreal is suddenly managing more than just this game.
There's still no official update on his status heading into the second period.
But the way Dobes reacted told you enough. This is something the Canadiens can't afford to lose.
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