Dobes was fantastic in Montreal's Game 1 victory over Carolina after he stopped 28 of 30 shots against (.929 SV%) on route to a 6-2 Canadiens victory. The 24-year-old has yet to lose back-to-back games in the playoffs despite starting all 15 games for Montreal. He currently has an impressive 9-6-0 record, 2.48 GAA and .911 SV% in the playoffs and will look to give Montreal a 2-0 series lead as they head to Raleigh on Saturday.
Dobes stopped 37 of 39 shots in the Canadiens' Game 7 win in Buffalo on Monday. It was Dobes' best performance of Round 2, where he finished with a 3.03 GAA and .897 SV% in seven games. In the first and second round combined, Dobes is 8-6-0 with a 2.52 GAA and .910 SV% in 14 games. Tonight he will start Game 1 in Carolina, a team he was 3-0-0 with a 2.67 GAA and .922 SV% against this season.
Struble has not played since Game 7 vs. the Lightning, sitting out the entire second-round vs. Buffalo. Struble is expected to replace Arber Xhekaj in the lineup for Game 1 in Carolina. Struble has not picked up a point in seven playoff games this season or in nine career playoff games.
Xhekaj played in all seven games vs. the Sabres, but is expected to be replaced by Jayden Struble in the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Xhekaj has picked up one goal, one assist and 45 hits in 13 playoff games.
It's unclear if Veleno is out with an undisclosed injury or is simply a healthy scratch. Veleno has zero goals and one assist in six games this post-season. Oliver Kapanen will draw into the lineup in his place.
Kapanen played in the opening four games of the playoffs but has not appeared since, serving as a healthy scratch in each of the last nine games. The 22-year-old Kapanen played in all 82 regular season games, tallying 22 goals and 15 assists. Joe Veleno will sit in his place.
Despite a shaky performance in Game 6, the Canadiens will unsurprisingly roll with Dobes between the pipes for Monday's series-deciding game against the Sabres. Dobes will be looking for a repeat performance of his masterclass in Game 7 of the first round, when he stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced and carried the Habs to a 2-1 victory over the Lightning. The Canadiens are the slightest of underdogs heading into Game 7, entering action at -105 on the money line.
Dobes allowed three goals on 36 shots in the Canadiens' 6-3 win in Buffalo in Game 5. The win moved Dobes to 3-2-0 with a 2.65 GAA and .901 SV% in the series and 7-5-0 with a 2.28 GAA and .914 SV% in the postseason. Montreal have a chance to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday, a game in which they are -170 home favourites.
The Canadiens will of course roll with Dobes between the pipes for a pivotal Game 5 matchup in their second-round series against the Sabres. Montreal fans' favourite netminder allowed three goals on 22 shots in Game 4, as the Habs suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat. Dobes and the Canadiens enter Game 5 as the slightest of favourites at -105 on the money line.
The Canadiens will be hoping Dobes can maintain his red-hot form as they look to take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Sabres on Tuesday. The 24-year-old netminder was serenaded by the Habs' faithful after Game 3, and rightfully so. He allowed just two goals on 28 shots as Montreal cruised to a 6-2 victory. Dobes and the Canadiens enter Game 4 as slight favourites at -140 on the money line.
After stealing Game 7 over the Lightning, Dobes turned in his worst performance of the playoffs in the opening game of the second round. The 24-year-old netminder allowed four goals on just 16 shots as the Habs suffered a 4-2 defeat. The Canadiens and Dobes will be hoping to bounce-back in Game 2, as they enter action as very slight underdogs at +110 on the money line.
Dobes was the standout performer in a deciding Game 7 against the Lightning, as the Canadiens pulled off a 2-1 victory despite being outshot 29 to 9. Dobes' Game 7 heroics highlight what was a very impressive opening round series for the 24-year-old netminder. He posted a 4-1-2 record to go along with a 2.03 GAA and a .923 SV%. The Habs open up their second-round series against the Sabres as slight underdogs, as they enter action on Wednesday at +115 on the money line.
Arber Xhekaj will draw into Montreal's lineup for Game One against the Buffalo Sabres, sending Struble to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Struble is averaging 10:46 time-on-ice, recording a +3 plus/minus and 21 hits through seven games this postseason.
Jayden Struble will be a healthy scratch in Game One against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Xhekaj to re-enter the lineup. The 21-year-old Xhekaj was the odd man out of the lineup to accommodate the return of Noah Dobson (upper body) in Game Seven against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but had been serviceable prior in the series, recording one assist and 31 hits in six games.
Joe Veleno will draw into Montreal's lineup for Game One against the Buffalo Sabres, sending Gallagher to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 34-year-old Gallagher made his 2025-26 postseason debut in Game Four against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He is averaging 6:25 time-on-ice and has one goal through three games in the playoffs.
Brendan Gallagher will be a healthy scratch in Game One against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Veleno to enter the lineup. The 26-year-old Veleno has not played in nearly three weeks. He had five points (2G / 3A) in 61 games this season.
Dobson has not played in three weeks, suffering an upper-body injury in the final week of the regular season, but he is expected to return to the lineup in Game Seven on Sunday. The 26-year-old Dobson scored 47 points (12G / 35A) in 80 games this season.
The Canadiens will unsurprisingly stick with Dobes between the pipes as the Canadiens enter a must-win Game Seven against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 24-year-old Czech goalie was outstanding in Game Six, saving 32 of 33 shots (.970 SV%), but ultimately allowed the game’s only goal midway through the first overtime period. He has a 2.19 GAA and .916 SV% through six games this postseason (3-3). Montreal enters Game Seven as a +145 road underdog.
