Jakub Dobes Struggles as Canadiens Goalie Decision Looms

The Montreal Canadiens did just about everything right against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night, except get the saves they needed. Despite controlling much of the game and creating plenty of scoring opportunities, Montreal came away empty-handed following another rough outing from Jakub Dobes.

For Dobes, this was supposed to be an opportunity to bounce back. After allowing 11 goals in his previous two starts and watching Jacob Fowler take over for three straight games, the 25-year-old needed a strong performance to regain some confidence. Instead, his struggles continued.

Dobes looked uncomfortable throughout the night, particularly when Washington moved the puck across the offensive zone. His positioning cost him on Ivan Miroshnichenko's first-period goal, when he moved too far across his crease and left the opposite side exposed. Justin Holl and Alex Tuch also found the back of the net as Dobes struggled to track shots and make timely saves.

The wins are not coming with him in net

He has 1 wins this season.

40th in the league

He faces about the usual number of shots

He has made 96 saves this season.

36th in the league

One team shoots at him more than anybody else

No skater has tested Dobes more than Cole Hutson: 9 attempts and 0 past him.

100.0% stopped

One team shuts him down every time he sees them

The Penguins have solved him most often: 6 goals on 39 attempts.

15.4% of their attempts beat him

He saves his best hockey for one particular opponent

He has been at his best against the Maple Leafs: 2 goals allowed on 38 attempts.

5.3% of their attempts beat him

There is one spot shooters keep finding on him

The goals against him average 21.7 feet out, against 32.0 feet for everything he faces.

23 goals allowed, so he is beaten from closer than the average attempt

He converts close chances at about the usual rate

From inside 25 feet he turns away 81.0% of what reaches him.

16 goals on 84 close attempts

His long range shooting is about league average

1.5% of the attempts he faces from beyond 40 feet end up in the net.

1 goals on 67 long-range attempts

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The frustrating part was how well the Canadiens played. The Habs controlled 62 percent of the shot attempts, accounted for 67 percent of the expected goals, and generated 13 high-danger chances at five-on-five, compared to Washington's 2.

At the other end, Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren delivered when his team needed him. Dobes couldn't do the same.

It's a concerning change from the goaltender Montreal relied on during last spring's playoff run. As we all know, Dobes was outstanding down the stretch, regularly making difficult saves and giving the Canadiens a chance to win. Now, even routine opportunities seem to be causing problems.

To his credit, Dobes accepted responsibility after the loss, acknowledging that he needed to be better for his teammates. The effort is still there, but his aggressive positioning has become a problem, often leaving him scrambling to recover.

The situation also creates an interesting decision for head coach Martin St. Louis. Fowler has looked comfortable during his recent appearances, and with Dobes struggling, the competition for playing time is only getting tighter.

He shuts the door completely more often than most goalies

He has 1 shutouts this season.

11th in the league

His team wins when he is the one in net

He has 3 wins this season.

25th in the league

He faces a light workload compared to his peers

He has made 81 saves this season.

41st in the league

One team scores on him more than anybody else

Olen Zellweger has beaten him 6 times, more than any other shooter.

19 attempts, 68.4% stopped

He has one opponent's number and it shows every meeting

He has stopped Alex DeBrincat on all 18 attempts.

the most attempts he has faced from one skater without conceding

One team shoots at him more than anybody else

No skater has tested Fowler more than Olen Zellweger: 19 attempts and 6 past him.

68.4% stopped

One team shuts him down every time he sees them

The Sabres have solved him most often: 11 goals on 73 attempts.

15.1% of their attempts beat him

He saves his best hockey for one particular opponent

He has been at his best against the Red Wings: 0 goals allowed on 48 attempts.

0.0% of their attempts beat him

He converts close chances at about the usual rate

From inside 25 feet he turns away 88.2% of what reaches him.

8 goals on 68 close attempts

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Montreal has been through something similar before. Samuel Montembeault once appeared to have the starting job secured before inconsistent performances opened the door for Dobes. Now, Dobes finds himself on the other side of that competition.There's still plenty of time for him to turn things around. With only 82 NHL games under his belt, he's far from a finished product, and last season proved he's capable of handling pressure.

But the Canadiens need more consistency in goal, especially when the rest of the lineup is playing well enough to win.

Dobes has already shown he can be Montreal's answer between the pipes. The question now is whether he can find that form again before Fowler takes the opportunity for himself.