Dobes takes responsibility after Canadiens' loss in Washington

Jakub Dobes said he needed to give Montreal more help after the Canadiens lost 5-4 to the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

The start was his first after Jacob Fowler had played Montreal's previous three games. Sportsnet reported that Dobes had conceded 11 goals across his two preceding starts, making Wednesday another setback in his attempt to regain form.

Dobes told reporters that he had felt comfortable in some situations against Washington, but that allowing five goals while his teammates scored four left him responsible for finding additional saves. He also said he had not given the Canadiens enough momentum.

Montreal's offensive pressure made the result particularly frustrating. In its postgame analysis, Sportsnet reported that the Canadiens generated most of the attempts and expected goals at five-on-five, yet could not turn that territorial advantage into a win. Those measures describe the team's play rather than an explanation Dobes offered for his own performance.

Washington scored twice in each of the first and third periods and once in the second. Montreal drew level during the middle period before conceding the next two goals, then cut the deficit to one late in the game.

The defeat leaves Dobes trying to recover his consistency while Fowler presses for playing time. Sportsnet described that competition for the net as a growing challenge for Dobes.