Spring of Dobes continues as Canadiens beat Sabres 6-2 to take 2-1 series lead

MONTREAL — Jakub Dobes looked up at the big screen and couldn’t help but crack a smile.

With a little under three minutes remaining in the Montreal Canadiens’ dominant 6-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres, the camera flipped to a fan holding a stop sign with “DOBES” written across it.

The Bell Centre crowd swelled into chants of “Do-by! Do-by!” — one of several ovations the rookie goalie received Sunday night — as Dobes burst into laughter from his crease.

“It warms your heart, and I’m really proud to be a Canadien and play for this franchise,” Dobes said. “After the Tampa series, I couldn’t believe some of the things that happened in the city, but it’s so much fun. I’m just happy that the fans are having fun with this as much as we do.”

It is quickly becoming the spring of Dobes in Montreal, though the candid netminder insists he’s still his same old self.

“I’m not a hero, I’m just me. I’m just a goofy goalie who tries to stop pucks,” Dobes said. “I will pretty much go home, eat, watch Game of Thrones and go to bed. I don’t think that’s anything heroic.

“And when it’s time to do my job I will do anything to win and make this franchise happy, make these fans happy.”

The 24-year-old from Czechia did just that, making 26 saves as the Canadiens grabbed a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series.

“That’s just the culture here, the fans — I mean, smart fans here,” defenceman Lane Hutson said of the wave of love for Dobes, who took over as Montreal’s starter just a few months ago. “They’re definitely cheering for the right guy.”

Cole Caufield — with an assist — and Juraj Slafkovsky each broke scoring droughts to help the Canadiens win consecutive games for the first time these playoffs.

Alex Newhook added two goals, including an empty-netter, while Zachary Bolduc and Kirby Dach also scored for Montreal. Hutson and Jake Evans each provided two assists.

Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin replied with a goal and an assist each for Buffalo. Alex Lyon stopped 31 shots in his second straight loss.

The Sabres handed the Canadiens a 4-2 defeat in Game 1 before Montreal responded with a 5-1 victory in Game 2. Game 4 will take place back at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night.

“Everyone in the room has better. We still haven’t gotten to what I think is our best game,” Thompson said. “It starts with me, it starts with Dahlin, (Alex) Tuch. There’s more in the tank.”

Minutes after missing a wide-open net, Caufield redeemed himself on the power play for his first goal in six games to give the Canadiens a 2-1 lead 6:05 into the second, kicking off a wild four-goal period.

Hutson deked around a stick-less Jordan Greenway before laying a pass to the snake-bitten 51-goal scorer, who deposited the puck into the gaping net as the crowd erupted into a boisterous ovation.

“Not by chance that Cole is a 50-goal scorer,” said coach Martin St. Louis. “If he had scored on more chances this season, would he have scored 60? He will have his chances to score and he will definitely miss some, but I’m not worried that Cole Caufield will score goals, even in the playoffs.”

The Canadiens appeared to gain a 3-1 lead one minute later when Josh Anderson’s backhand trickled through Lyon as Phillip Danault crashed the crease. The officials, however, ruled no goal as jeers rained on a night that featured several questionable calls.

Bolduc ultimately gave the Canadiens a two-goal advantage at 10:43 in the second after Joe Veleno set him up.

Chaos ensued two minutes later when Beck Malenstyn ran over Dobes on one of multiple occasions that the Sabres attacked his crease, provoking a massive scrum and sending the Canadiens on a power play.

Slafkovsky then made it 4-1 with a deflection on Hutson’s point shot, scoring his first goal since netting a hat trick in Game 1 of the first round.

Dahlin cut into the deficit with 5:14 left in the second period, but Dach restored the three-goal lead at 8:46 in the third.

His goal followed multiple key saves from Dobes, twice denying Zach Benson, as the Canadiens fended off a Sabres pushback that included a nervy penalty kill early in the period.

“Saves us when we need it the most,” Caufield said. “He’s been unbelievable throughout these playoffs and kept us in every game, so I know he’s going to keep it going.”

Large crowds packed the surrounding streets hours ahead of the game on a sunny afternoon, as the Canadiens added a third giant screen outside the building to meet the “incredible demand.”

Kirk Muller carried the ceremonial torch inside before puck drop of the Canadiens’ first second-round playoff game before a full Bell Centre since 2015.

Thompson wasted little time to — temporarily — quiet the crowd, opening the scoring 53 seconds in after Dahlin’s point shot deflected off the end boards and onto his stick, ending a seven-game drought after going minus-4 with a costly turnover in Game 2.

“We started off really good,” Thompson said. “There were spurts throughout the game where I thought we got to our game and played to our standard, but just not consistent enough, and we gave them life.

“The building is pretty rocking, so it’s a little deflating.”

Lyon, faced with “Ly-on!” taunts all evening, then denied chances from Nick Suzuki, Caufield and Veleno to keep the Sabres ahead until Newhook capitalized on a rebound at 15:31 of the first period.

Newhook sparked a run of four unanswered goals from the Canadiens, who gained a lead they would not squander.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 10, 2026.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press