Lights Out: Canadiens Goalie Shuts Out Panthers in NHL Debut

SUNRISE — All of a sudden, the Florida Panthers have a scoring problem. At the same time, it looks like the Montreal Canadiens finally found a backup goalie.

Jakub Dobes, 23, made his NHL debut extra memorable on Saturday afternoon by making 33 saves and leading the Canadiens to a 4-0 win over the Panthers.

Since scoring four goals in Tampa on Sunday, the Panthers have been shutout in 2 hours, 31 seconds of game time in a pair of losses to the Lightning and Canadiens.

Montreal ended a nine-game losing streak in Sunrise dating to Dec. 28, 2018.

It is the longest home winning streak against a single opponent in Panthers history.

After a scoreless first period, the Canadiens scored three in the second to take a commanding 3-0 lead into the third.

Florida gave up a pair to Kirby Dach before Jake Evans picked off Sam Reinhart and drove in on Spencer Knight for a shorthanded goal.

PANTHERS V. CANADIENS NOTES

• Evans got his third shorthanded goal of the season, tying Alex Tuch for second-most in the NHL this season. Only Reinhart (four) has more.
• Dobes joined Bob Perreault (Dec. 17, 1955), Wayne Thomas (Jan. 14, 1973), and Yann Danis (Oct. 12, 2005) as the only Montreal goalies to get a shutout in their NHL debut.

HOW THEY SCORED

• Canadiens 1, Panthers 0 (1:39 2nd): Alex Newhook sends a cross-ice pass to Kirby Dach that he whiffs on in front of the net — but the puck bounds off his right skate and past Spencer Knight.
• Canadiens 2, Panthers 0 (13:51 2nd): The Panthers get caught in a traffic jam near the bench and Dach comes through the zone with speed and beats Knight with his backhand this time.
• Canadiens 3, Panthers 0 (17:19 2nd SH): A blind pass from Sam Reinhart is picked off in the neutral zone and Jake Evans drives in and scores from the left circle.
• Canadiens 4, Panthers 0 (14:17 3rd): Another Florida turnover leads to Cole Caufield scoring from the slot.

FHN’S 3 STARS OF THE GAME

• 1. Jakub Dobes, Montreal
• 2. Kirby Dach, Montreal
• 3. Alex Newhook, Montreal

ON DECK: GAME No. 38

NEW YORK RANGERS AT FLORIDA PANTHERS

• When: Monday, 7 p.m.
• Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise 
• Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FtL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (Naples/FtM)
• Streaming: Panthers+; ESPN+
• Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
• Last Season vs. Rangers — Regular Season: Panthers won 2-1; Eastern Conference Finals: Panthers won 4-2. 
• This Season (Panthers Lead 1-0) — At Florida: Monday; April 14. At MSG: Panthers 3, Rangers 1 (Oct. 24).
• All-time Regular Season Series: Rangers lead 61-35-8, 6 ties
• Postseason History: Rangers won 4-1 (1997, 1st round); Panthers won 4-2 (2024 ECF)
• Up Next for the Panthers: Thursday vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.