Dobes 'bounces forward' to help Canadiens take Game 7 over Sabres

Sabres winger Jack Quinn (22) is stopped by Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes in Buffalo, N.Y., on Monday, May 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

BUFFALO — Jakub Dobes had a familiar name ringing in his ears.

The Canadiens goaltender was the focus of a rabid KeyBank Center crowd after his team’s lead shrank from 2-0 to 2-1.

The catcalls got louder when the Buffalo Sabres tied Game 7 in the third period.

The fiery Dobes embraced the moment Monday — and Montreal is off to the NHL’s Eastern Conference final.

The 24-year-old made 37 saves, including a huge stop on Tage Thompson in overtime, as the Canadiens picked up a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Alex Newhook’s winner to take the teams’ best-of-seven series 4-3.

“Their fans like to chant my name … I like that, too,” Dobes said. “Thanks for that. Actually, that was giving me fire because I like when you’re the villain.”

The Czech netminder “bounced forward” — a term often used by head coach Martin St. Louis — in impressive fashion after allowing six goals and getting pulled Saturday in Montreal’s ugly 8-3 loss at the Bell Centre in Game 6.

“Couple tweaks, but I felt great the last game,” said Dobes, whose group also won Game 7 on the road against the Tampa Bay Lightning and will face the well-rested Carolina Hurricanes beginning Thursday in Raleigh, N.C.

“Getting pulled at home was kind of a wake-up call. I took it personal.”

Montreal built a 2-0 lead Monday on goals from Phillip Danault and Zachary Bolduc before the Sabres pushed back courtesy of Jordan Greenway and Rasmus Dahlin to force extra-time.

Monday’s big moments from Dobes included a breakaway denial of Jack Quinn in the first, a huge save on Thompson late in the second, and covering a loose puck in his crease off a Konsta Helenius chance with eight minutes left in the third before the OT heroics.

“He’s been great this whole playoffs, honestly,” Canadiens winger Josh Anderson said. “We have the utmost confidence in him back there. He’s made some huge saves in both series. You just knew he was going to have a big night.”

Bolduc agreed there was little doubt Dobes would respond.

“That proves how much character he has, how much he wants to win,” said the forward. “He’s been our best player since the first game of the playoffs. We had all our confidence in him.

“We’re not surprised the way he bounced forward.”

Dobes, who has been known to mix it up with opponents when they get too close to his crease, said focus and composure were crucial in OT.

“I just tried to tell myself that you just got to do everything, you got to (give) everything you have, everything that’s left in a tank … got to go all out,” he said. “You got to keep telling yourself, ‘No, the puck won’t go in, they’re not going to score.’ Trick your brain and be there for the guys.

“I love the team and everyone so much. I will do anything, however long as it takes, to get the (win).”

Montreal defenceman Mike Matheson said the team’s 18 skaters didn’t give Dobes much help in Game 6.

“Not that we made his life any easier (Monday) either, but he was unbelievable,” said the blueliner. “He gives us so much confidence and keeps us in so many games. Buffalo played really, really well, especially in the second period. But he was always there to backstop us and keep us in the game.”

St. Louis said the process of resetting up and down his lineup after a tough night helped Dobes flush Saturday’s nightmare at the Bell Centre.

“Talking about the process of whether we win or lose,” said the coach. “There’s not much emotion attached to the process. We just tell the truth, we move on. That’s what we did. Game 7 for me, it’s about finding ways. I thought we did that. Was that our best game? No, but we had pockets throughout that game and found a way to win.

“Guys that didn’t have a great (Game 6). Let’s go — let’s move on.”

The Canadiens are moving on again. And the Hurricanes await.

This report by The Canadian Press was May 18, 2026.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press