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Jakub Dobeš
Jakub Dobeš (born May 27, 2001) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the fifth round, 136th overall, by the Canadiens in the 2020 NHL entry draft. Playing careerCollegiateDobeš committed to play college ice hockey for The Ohio State University of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) beginning in the 2021–22 season. Following an outstanding freshman year, posting both a 2.26 goals against average (GAA) and a .934 save percentage, his efforts resulted in multiple awards, including the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, the All-Big Ten First Team, Big Ten Goaltender of the Year, and co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year, which he split with defenseman Luke Hughes.[1] He was also named a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award presented to the best men's goaltender across NCAA Division I ice hockey.[2] ProfessionalSelected in the fifth round (136th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2020 NHL entry draft, Dobeš signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens on March 31, 2023.[3] He subsequently joined Montreal's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Laval Rocket to end the 2022–23 season, but did not see any playing time.[4] After attending the Canadiens' 2023 training camp, Dobeš was assigned to Laval to start the 2023–24 season.[5] Initially struggling at the onset of his professional career, Dobeš allowed at least three goals in each of his first six starts.[6] However, as the season progressed, he adjusted and became a solid fixture in the Rocket net, consistently starting as the team's top goaltender.[7] He recorded his first AHL shutout on February 28, 2024, making 35 stops in a 4–0 win versus the Bridgeport Islanders.[8] Despite this resurgence,[9] the team would ultimately come up short and miss the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs.[10] Dobeš would finish his rookie AHL campaign tied for the league lead in games played by a goaltender, with 51.[11]  After posting a 9–3–1 record through 14 games with Laval to begin the 2024–25 season, Dobeš was recalled by the Canadiens on December 27, 2024.[12] The same day, team head coach Martin St. Louis announced that Dobeš would make his NHL debut against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on December 28.[13] With a 34-save shutout,[14] he became just the fifth goaltender in Canadiens franchise history to register a shutout in their NHL debut, joining Wilf Cude, Bob Perreault, Wayne Thomas, and Yann Danis.[15] Additionally, Dobeš became the seventh goaltender in league history to record a win versus the defending Stanley Cup champion in their NHL debut, and the third to have done so via shutout, after Hal Winkler and Daren Puppa.[16] Following a 2–1 shootout performance over the Colorado Avalanche on January 4, 2025,[17] Dobeš effectively made franchise history as the first Canadiens goaltender to allow one goal through his first two career NHL starts.[18] Improving his record to 3–0–0 with a 3–2 overtime win over the Washington Capitals on January 10, he matched Bob Perreault as the only Canadiens goaltenders to allow three goals or fewer through his first three career starts with the team.[19] A week later, Dobeš became the third goaltender in NHL history following Viktor Fasth and Martin Jones to amass four inaugural career wins while allowing four or fewer cumulative goals through the same number of appearances.[20] Similarly, he also joined Charlie Lindgren as the only other goaltender in league history to earn wins through their first four NHL starts with each game taking place on the road.[21] On January 19,[22] Dobeš became the thirteenth goaltender in NHL history to go 5–0–0 over the course of his first five career games,[23] and just the fourth goaltender born outside North America to achieve same, after Antero Niittymaki, Frederik Andersen, and Pyotr Kochetkov respectively.[24] Career statistics
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