Sabres Have Big Challenge With Canadiens' Red-Hot Goalie

May 6, 2026 - 18:27

The Buffalo Sabres are heading into a critical matchup with a significant obstacle standing in their way: Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes, who has been on an absolute tear. After shutting down the Sabres in the first round of their series, Dobes has emerged as the story of the postseason so far. His reflexes are sharp, his positioning is flawless, and he seems to read every shot before it leaves the stick. For Buffalo, this means the offensive game plan needs a major adjustment.

The Sabres have relied on speed and puck movement all season, but Dobes has a way of swallowing up those quick passes and cutting off angles. In the first round, he stopped 47 of 49 shots, frustrating Buffalo's top line and forcing them into low-percentage attempts from the outside. Head coach Lindy Ruff acknowledged the challenge, noting that the team needs to create more traffic in front of the net and crash the crease harder. "You can't beat a goalie like that with clean looks," Ruff said. "We have to make him uncomfortable."

Buffalo's power play, which ranked in the top half of the league during the regular season, also went cold against Dobes. They went 0-for-4 in the last game, with Dobes robbing Tage Thompson on a one-timer that seemed destined for the back of the net. The Sabres will need to find a way to disrupt his rhythm early, perhaps by testing him with more rebounds and second-chance opportunities. If they can't solve Dobes in this second round, their playoff hopes could vanish quickly.