Czech Goalie Jakub Dobes Earns Praise from Ladislav Smid

Ladislav Smid shares his thoughts on Jakub Dobes' impressive start with the Montreal Canadiens, praising the young Czech goalie's confidence and skills.

NHL Weekly Roundup

Top Performers of the Week

This week in the NHL saw several players shine, with five forwards reaching an impressive seven-point mark. Filip Forsberg of Nashville, Jason Robertson of Dallas, and Connor McDavid of Edmonton all recorded four goals and three assists. Notably, Forsberg achieved this feat in just three games, while McDavid took one more game to reach the same milestone.

McDavid's Uncharacteristic Penalty Minutes

Connor McDavid, known for his exceptional skill and sportsmanship, had an uncharacteristic week, accumulating 15 penalty minutes. Despite this, he remained one of the top performers, showcasing his ability to bounce back from adversity.

Other Notable Performances

Clayton Keller of Utah also reached the seven-point mark, with one goal and six assists in three games. Meanwhile, veteran Matt Duchene of Dallas contributed two goals and five assists to his team's efforts, rounding out the list of top performers for the week.

Goaltender of the Week: Logan Thompson's Impressive Streak

Logan Thompson continues to defy expectations, delivering outstanding performances not just in Washington but throughout the league. His latest feat saw him concede only one goal from 62 shots faced over three games, a testament to his exceptional skill and focus. Thompson's impressive form has been a key factor in Washington's success, with the team earning 44 out of a possible 50 points on the season when he's in the lineup.

Thompson's scoreless streak was eventually ended by Pittsburgh's Bryan Rust, who scored after 198 minutes and 22 seconds of play. This marked the longest scoreless streak in the NHL this season and the third-longest in Washington Capitals history. Despite the streak being broken, Thompson's performances have cemented his position as a top goaltender in the league.

Highlight of the Week: Alex Nedeljkovic's Historic Performance

Pittsburgh's struggles this season have been well-documented, with uncertainty surrounding the team's goaltending situation. However, on Friday, Alex Nedeljkovic proved that sometimes, things can go right for the Penguins. In a remarkable display, Nedeljkovic became the first goalie in NHL history to achieve a unique feat, recording a goal and an assist in a single game.

Nedeljkovic's historic performance came in a 5-2 win over Buffalo, as he helped his team secure a much-needed victory. His unconventional achievement added a bright spot to Pittsburgh's otherwise challenging season, showcasing the goalie's skills and versatility.

Alex Nedeljkovic's Puck-Handling Skills Pay Off

Alex Nedeljkovic's historic performance, in which he became the first goalie in NHL history to record a goal and an assist in a single game, was a testament to his puck-handling skills. Nedeljkovic revealed that he has always enjoyed playing with the puck, a aspect of his game that he has developed since childhood. Growing up, he drew inspiration from two champion goalies, Marty Turco and Martin Brodeur, who were known for their exceptional puck-handling abilities. “I've always enjoyed playing with the puck. It's been a part of my game since I was a kid. Growing up, I watched two champions who could handle the puck - Marty Turco and Martin Brodeur. I learned a lot from them how they worked with the puck,” he said.

Nedeljkovic's two points this season may not make him the most productive goalie, as Dustin Wolf of Calgary and Pyotr Kochetkov of Carolina have each recorded three assists. Additionally, he is not the first goaltender to score a goal this season, as Filip Gustavsson of Minnesota achieved this feat in October. However, Nedeljkovic's performance is still notable, especially when compared to some field players. For example, his teammate Ryan Graves has not scored a point in 32 games this season, and Vancouver's Noah Juulsen has also failed to record a point in the same number of games.

Stat of the Week: Ovechkin Sets New NHL Record

It was only a matter of time before Alexander Ovechkin achieved another milestone in his illustrious career. The Russian forward has now set a new NHL record, having outshot 179 different goalies throughout his career. This impressive feat ties him with Jaromir Jagr, cementing Ovechkin's status as one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history.

Ovechkin's record-breaking achievement came at the expense of Ottawa rookie Leevi Merilainen, whom he outshot in overtime to secure a 1-0 victory for Washington. This thrilling moment showcased Ovechkin's enduring skill and determination, as he continues to make his mark on the NHL record books.

Lundqvist's Chance Encounter on the Slopes

Former NHL goalie Henrik Lundqvist has been enjoying a well-deserved break from hockey, spending time on the slopes in Austria. In a heartwarming moment, Lundqvist stumbled upon a Czech snowboarder wearing his jersey while skiing in Bad Gastein. Lundqvist, clearly delighted by the fan's gesture, took the opportunity to meet the snowboarder and share a moment of mutual appreciation.

Photo of the Week: Foligno and Schenn Drop the Gloves

The number of fights in the NHL may be declining, but when tensions rise, the gloves still come off. A thrilling example of this was seen on Saturday when Minnesota's Marcus Foligno and Nashville's Luke Schenn engaged in a fierce brawl. The intensity of their matchup was mirrored in the game itself, which witnessed a remarkable three fights in the first period alone.

Ladislav Smid's View on Jakub Dobes' Impressive Start

Ladislav Smid, a longtime overseas player shared his thoughts on Jakub Dobes' remarkable debut with the Montreal Canadiens. “Goaltender Jakub Dobes is having an amazing start to his career in Montreal, picking up five wins in his first five games. And for the Canadiens, one of hockey's biggest brands ever!” Smid expressed his admiration for Dobes' skills, saying, “I've seen some of his games and he's been great, his height and athleticism helps a lot.”

Smid acknowledged that Dobes' winning streak won't last forever but emphasized the importance of the goalie's presence for the young Canadiens team. “He can't win forever, of course, but you can see that the players are confident with him in the back. As a young team, having a goalie behind you that you can rely on is a huge help.” Smid also touched on the pressure that comes with playing in a Canadian city, saying, “The pressure probably isn't being felt as much right now, although of course it's always been there and will be there more and more in Montreal. Hockey is never easy in Canadian cities.”

So far, so perfect ✅

Red-hot rookie Jakub Dobeš continues to impress 🤩 pic.twitter.com/1YSXnudaIg

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 20, 2025

Smid offered words of encouragement for Dobes, emphasizing the importance of staying focused. “Hopefully, Jakub has his head on straight and will focus on hockey. He's obviously a very good goalie.” Smid also expressed pride in the Czech Republic's strong tradition of producing talented goalies. “In general, we have a lot of goalies in the NHL now and it proves that the goalie school has always been strong in the Czech Republic. At one time it dropped off a bit, but now we can lean on young promising goalies again. I think something is going well in the Czech Republic. The whole of Czech hockey can be happy about that.”