Montreal Canadiens rookie goaltender Jakub Dobeš is addressing the buzz surrounding his emotional reaction following the team's 4-3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. The 22-year-old netminder was visibly upset after the game, with video showing him in tears during a post-game interview.
Dobeš's display of emotion sparked a range of reactions, with some observers questioning whether he was taking the loss too hard and if he would be able to handle the pressure of a full NHL season. Others, however, saw his reaction as a sign of his passion and dedication to the team.
Addressing the media after the emotional moment, Dobeš clarified his feelings. "There's not any disappointment at all," Dobeš stated. "After that, I think I was fine on the plane. Going back to that, I want to close it. You guys don't need to worry about me at all. Just some games mean more to someone than the others, so I really took it personal that game". He admitted his frustration stemmed from facing a team that had beaten him before. "They beat me last year and I promised myself it wasn't going to happen again," he said. "It kinda happened the same way… I should have probably taken a couple more minutes to myself".
Despite the attention, Dobeš affirmed that there were no lingering issues in the locker room. "Every game I play in this jersey I take it with pride and a lot of heart. I'm naturally just a more emotional guy than others… The guys had fun with it. There's no problem whatsoever," he explained.
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis defended Dobeš's passion. "These guys don't come to the NHL by luck. They're programmed in a way that brings them to levels not many people attain. That's how he deals with things. We will support him," St. Louis said.
Some analysts believe Dobeš isn't solely to blame for the loss, and the responsibility belongs to the entire team. One analyst, François Gagnon, said that Dobeš "didn't need to cry the way he did, because no - he's not responsible for the overtime loss the Canadiens suffered". Gagnon noted that the Canadiens were often a "second too late to the puck," and those small details made the difference in the game.
Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette wrote, "As far as him crying, he cares so much for the guys,” Fry continued. “He really wears his heart on his sleeve. Not only the players, but also the fans as well. I think he knows that everyone's rooting for him. It's just a normal kind of human reaction. Plus, the reporter was asking good questions. A good reporter asks a question that gets an emotional response and then he followed it up again".
Dobeš currently has 23 games of NHL experience. His record stands at 6-0-1 with a 2.25 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. The Canadiens are currently sitting in first place in the Atlantic Division with a 9-3-2 record.
