Poor Martin McGuire definitely doesn’t get a break.
After a year 2024 marked by verbal clashes with Martin St-Louis, the famous describer of the Montreal Canadiens’ matches found himself in an embarrassing situation facing Jakub Dobeš, the young Habs goalkeeper.
What was supposed to be a simple post-match interview turned into another episode of public unease, captured on camera and now etched in memories.
It all started after the Canadian’s victory against the Washington Capitals, where Dobeš shone in his third NHL start.
McGuire, seeking to highlight the difficulty of playing in an arena like the Capital One Arenatried to get a comment from the young goalkeeper on the intensity of the experience.
McGuire : « It really is a difficult amphitheater. It’s a difficult place for opponents. Was it hard to win here? »
Dobes: « Ici ? »
McGuire : “Yes, it’s a tough place to play. »
Dobes: “No, nothing compares to the Bell Centre. That’s all. »
Visibly surprised and uncomfortable, McGuire tried to rephrase to get a more nuanced response:
McGuire : “But at the Bell Centre, the fans are on your side. »
Dobes: “Yes, but it still gives me chills. It’s incredible. No, nothing compares to the Bell Centre. So, I think no matter where we play, we’re prepared. »
Dobeš, imperturbable and full of conviction, dismissed the idea that playing in Washington could be intimidating, immediately bringing the conversation back to the Bell Centre.
Meanwhile, a visibly distraught McGuire fumbled for words, in vain, to save face.
Here is the awkward video extract. Poor McGuire was drenched in sweat. He was hot…very hot…
This scene captured attention for several reasons. First of all, McGuire, accustomed to asking incisive questions, this time seemed overwhelmed by the confidence of his interlocutor.
The young Dobeš, aged 22 and still at the start of his career, responded with remarkable confidence, transforming an innocuous question into a declaration of love for the Bell Center and its fans.
But for McGuire, this exchange took a disastrous turn. Already publicly manhandled by Martin St-Louis on several occasions in 2024, the journalist once again found himself in the spotlight, sweating profusely and unable to control the situation.
The scene, captured by cameras, sparked laughter on social networks, where McGuire quickly became the symbol of the journalist who always gets picked up.
While McGuire suffered further humiliation, Jakub Dobeš continued to impress with his serenity and poise, both on and off the ice.
Against the Capitals, he stopped 15 of 17 shots, maintaining his perfect NHL record and helping the Canadiens earn a narrow 3-2 overtime victory.
Dobeš made no secret of his excitement to play against Alexander Ovechkin, whom he considers one of the greatest players in history.
“He is the best scorer of all time, he will be soon”he said before the match. He even admitted to watching Ovechkin closely during the warm-up:
“I wanted to see him draw, see which side he places the puck on. »
On the ice, Dobeš rose to the challenge, making a key save on a one-timer from Ovechkin on the power play, a classic of the Russian legend.
“I’ll probably record this stop on my phone!” » Dobeš joked after the meeting, demonstrating both his humor and humility.
Despite his successes, Dobeš has not been perfect. He conceded a goal in the first period by slightly cheating, anticipating a pass to Ovechkin that never came.
“I was cheating a little. You can’t respect a rival too much either. I’m glad I adjusted afterward.
Even if he is very good, you can’t give too much respect to a player. This is what I learned today. »
This type of quick learning is a promising sign for the young goaltender, who only recently began his NHL career.
In three starts, he has shown an impressive ability to adapt and handle pressure, two essential qualities to succeed in a demanding market like Montreal.
Beyond individual performances, the victory against Washington demonstrated the Canadian’s growing maturity as a team.
Trailing 2-0 after one period, the Habs responded with calm and determination, scoring three unanswered goals to snatch the victory.
Cole Caufield scored his 100th career goal, Emil Heineman continued his strong season with his ninth goal, and Kirby Dach found the back of the net for a third straight game.
For his part, Samuel Montembeault, who came on as relief after a difficult outing during their last clash against Washington, shone at the end of the match to preserve the lead.
For McGuire, this exchange with Dobeš is a new episode in a series of difficult interactions with members of the Canadiens organization.
After a year marked by heated confrontations with Martin St-Louis, it seems that even the young players are not willing to give him a break.
The contrast between Dobeš’s quiet confidence and McGuire’s apparent nervousness is striking. While the young goaltender slowly builds his reputation in the NHL, the veteran journalist seems to accumulate embarrassing moments.
This exchange will go down as a key moment in Jakub Dobeš’s young career, not for his performance on the ice, but for the way he handled pressure off it.
By confidently asserting that nothing compares to the Bell Centre, he not only demonstrated his love for Montreal, but also his understanding of what makes this market unique.
For Martin McGuire, on the other hand, the episode is a stark reminder of the challenges of working in an environment where every word is scrutinized and even rookies can put a seasoned journalist on the defensive.
As the Canadian continues to build on this winning streak, one thing is certain: Jakub Dobeš, with his talent and his mental steel, is well on his way to becoming an important figure on the team.
As for McGuire, he may have to learn to navigate his interviews more subtly if he wants to avoid being, once again, the unwitting subject of conversations.
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