Dobes named NHL first star of the week after backstopping Habs to three wins

Montréal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) snares a shot from the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

NEW YORK — Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes has been named the NHL’s first star of the week.

Dobes appeared in three of the Canadiens’ four wins last week, stopping 100 of 104 shots.

The Czech rookie stopped a career-high 41 shots, including the last 33 he faced, in a 5-2 win over Carolina on Tuesday.

He then gave up just one goal in each of his next two starts — a 2-1 win over Columbus on Thursday and a 3-1 come-from-behind win versus the Hurricanes on Sunday.

Montreal ended the week in third place in the Atlantic Division, four points behind Tampa Bay and Buffalo.

Boston centre Pavel Zacha was named second star after putting up five goals and three assists in four games, and Anaheim defenceman John Carlson had seven assists in three games to earn third-star honours.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2026.