Canadiens have no choice with Jakub Dobes

The Montreal Canadiens had to pull Jakub Dobes late against the Buffalo Sabres in Game 6.

It wasn't all his fault, but the Habs were on their way to an 8-3 defeat, and he certainly hadn't played his best game in goal.

Despite that, though, Montreal doesn't really have a choice.

Dobes will start Game 7, just as he did last round.

Before Game 6 against Buffalo, Dobes had played the entire postseason for Montreal. He got hot late in the year, and he's proven to be a guy the Canadiens could ride to big wins.

His struggles on Saturday sent this series to a Game 7, but it's not like Jacob Fowler looked awesome once he come on in relief.

That was Fowler's playoff debut. There's no way Martin St. Louis would turn to Fowler for Game 7.

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This is Dobes' net. He's just going to have to defend it better than he did last game.

It's pretty opposite of the way the Sabres have operated, with frequent switches between Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. That could backfire for Buffalo, though, if UPL struggles to start Game 7.

On the flip side, Dobes knows that for better or worse, this is his starting gig.

He earned the win in Game 7 of the first round despite the Canadiens having just nine shots on goal at the other end of the ice.

The Canadiens will need Dobes at his best Monday night to keep their season going.

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