Montreal Canadiens players surround goaltender Jakub Dobes, not seen, after the Canadiens defeated the Florida Panthers 4-0 in an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Dobes gets shutout in NHL debut, Canadiens blank Panthers 4-0
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Jakub Dobes stopped 34 shots in his NHL debut, Kirby Dach had his first two-goal game in nearly two years, and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Florida Panthers 4-0 on Saturday.
Dobes, a 23-year-old from the Czech Republic, went 9-3-1 with a 2.44 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in the minors this season, his second as a pro.
He became the first goaltender to record a shutout against the defending Stanley Cup champion in his NHL debut since Daren Puppa for Buffalo at Edmonton on Nov. 1, 1985, according to STATS.
Cole Caufield and Jake Evans also scored for Montreal, and Alex Newhook had two assists.
Spencer Knight stopped 21 shots for Florida, which has been shut out in back-to-back games for the second time this month.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) celebrates with his teammates after the Canadiens shut out the Florida Panthers 4-0 in an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Takeaways
Canadiens: Dobes became the first Montreal goalie to get a shutout in his NHL debut since Yann Danis in 2005.
Panthers: This marks the first time since 2003 that Florida was blanked in consecutive home games. Florida lost 4-0 to Tampa Bay on Dec. 23, its most recent game before Saturday’s matchup with Dobes and the Canadiens.
Key moment
Evans’ short-handed goal with 2:41 left in the second seemed to put the game out of reach.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) makes the save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP)
Key stat
The Panthers are 10-0-1 in their last 11 games in which they have scored at least one goal. They’ve also been shut out four times in that span.
Up next
The Canadiens visit Tampa Bay on Sunday. Florida remains home to face the New York Rangers on Monday.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) defends the goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) defends the goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) stops the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach (77) celebrates with teammates after scoring his second goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP)Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) fights with Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj (72) during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP)Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach (77) fires a shot past Florida Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight (30) to score a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP)Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach (77) celebrates with teammate Patrik Laine (92) after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP)Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach (77) celebrates with teammates at the bench after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP)Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (48) skates with the puck as Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) pursues during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
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