Habs Daily: Dobes Remains Perfect, Canadiens Don’t Quit, Beck

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed on the weekend.

Montreal Canadiens News

Patrik Laine scored the overtime winner, as the Canadiens overcame four different one-goal deficits to complete an entertaining playoff-style come-from-behind win. Nick Suzuki, Brendan Gallagher, Christian Dvorak, and Juraj Slafkovsky also scored, while rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes maintained his perfect record (5-0) in the NHL. The game also featured a heavyweight tilt between Arber Xhekaj and Matt Rempe, resulting in yet another loss for the awkward Rangers forward.  [Habs Highlights: Xhekaj Fights Rempe, Canadiens Resiliency]

Lost in all the excitement of Sunday’s win was a pair of crucial saves by Dobes in overtime.

Full marks to Laine and Co. for winning the game in overtime, but we can’t forget Jakub Dobes’ two big saves shortly beforehand. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/c64PsIHbjy

— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) January 20, 2025

Dobes was playing in his first game at the Bell Centre. He was clearly impressed with the support from the home crowd.

#Habs Jakub Dobeš on playing at the Bell Centre: “I might play on the road because these guys are nuts! Like the best crowd I ever had! I said it before, it gives me goosebumps… this is the best place to play and it’s a privilege to play here every night.”

— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) January 20, 2025

On Friday we discussed the call-up options from the AHL, and while Jared Davidson would have been a good fit to replace Michael Pezzetta in the lineup, the Canadiens opted to recall cerebral forward Owen Beck instead. Beck quickly established himself as a trustworthy player for Pascal Vincent’s Laval Rocket, and he is probably the most logical choice when it comes to plug-and-play options from the farm. [Montreal Canadiens Call-Up Options From The Laval Rocket]

The Habs played reasonably well on Saturday, but a complete meltdown led to seven straight goals by the Toronto Maple Leafs. [Habs Highlights: Montembeault Vs. Dobes Debate Resurfaces]

Top prospect Jacob Fowler had an awful weekend in the NCAA. No, I’m just joking, Fowler doesn’t have bad weekends. He started off with a shutout win over Providence, the 7th ranked team in the country, and followed it up by saving 30 of the 31 shots he faced the following day versus the same opponent. Fowler is currently sporting a 15-3-1 record, as well as a sparkling .938 save percentage.

National Hockey Now Network

The heartbreak and realizations inside the Pittsburgh Penguins dressing room Saturday night were palpable. From coach Mike Sullivan’s subtle shift in tense and tone to captain Sidney Crosby’s trailing voice, the loss to the Washington Capitals was a hard punch to the gut. [Pittsburgh Penguins]

Both of them are Detroit Red Wings Hall of Famers and international hockey legends to boot. But today, they are on opposite ends of a debate centering around international politics. [Detroit Red Wings]

Brad Marchand is one of, if not the most clutch players in Boston Bruins history, as the franchise’s all-time leader in overtime goals, but he was benched in a recent loss as teams headed to extra time. [Boston Bruins]