Newhook, Dobes propel surging Montreal Canadiens to 3-1 win over Dallas Stars

DALLAS (AP) — Alex Newhook’s deflection broke a tie midway through the third period and unbeaten rookie Jakub Dobes made 32 saves as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Dallas Stars 3-1 on Thursday night.

Newhook’s goal stood up following a replay review to check the height of his stick while he was tied up with Dallas’ Wyatt Johnston just outside the crease.

Dobes improved to 4-0-0, with all four victories coming on the road against teams with winning records: Florida, Colorado, Washington and Dallas. The 23-year-old goalie was brought up from Laval of the AHL following the NHL’s Christmas break to back up Sam Montembeault.

Juraj Slafkovsky and Joel Armia also scored for the Canadiens, who have points in 12 of their last 14 games (11-2-1). Armia’s goal was a last-minute empty-netter.

Jason Robertson scored for the Stars, who have lost two of three following a season-best seven-game winning streak. Jake Oettinger stopped 21 shots but had his six-game winning streak snapped.

Newhook, Dobes propel surging Montreal Canadiens to 3-1 win over Dallas Stars | iNFOnews.ca
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) covers up a shot under pressure from Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Robertson gave Dallas a 1-0 lead less than four minutes in, converting a rebound off a shot by Evgenii Dadonov. That advantage lasted less than a minute, though, until Slafkovsky ended a 10-game goal drought.

Takeaways

Canadiens: Montreal defenceman Lane Hutson had an assist and leads NHL rookies with 36 points. He is trying to become the second blueliner to lead rookies in scoring over the past 35 seasons, the other being Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes in 2019-20.

Stars: With Roope Hintz (upper body) now day-to-day, Tyler Seguin (hip) out for the season since Dec. 1 and Mason Marchment (facial fracture) sidelined since Dec. 27, Dallas played five rookie forwards.

Key moment

Newhook, Dobes propel surging Montreal Canadiens to 3-1 win over Dallas Stars | iNFOnews.ca
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier (45) and Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) compete for the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dobes made two saves after Oettinger was pulled for an extra skater with 2 1/2 minutes to play.

Key stat

Dallas scored at least four goals in six of its previous nine games, but was unable to generate much offence this time.

Up next

The Canadiens begin a three-game homestand against Toronto on Saturday, while the Stars visit Colorado.

Newhook, Dobes propel surging Montreal Canadiens to 3-1 win over Dallas Stars | iNFOnews.ca
Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) takes control of the puck during a penalty kill as Montreal Canadiens’ Mike Matheson (8), Jake Evans (71) and Wyatt Johnston (53) look on in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Newhook, Dobes propel surging Montreal Canadiens to 3-1 win over Dallas Stars | iNFOnews.ca
Dallas Stars’ Wyatt Johnston (53), Evgenii Dadonov (63) and Esa Lindell (23) celebrate with Jason Robertson, center rear, who scored against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes, left, in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Newhook, Dobes propel surging Montreal Canadiens to 3-1 win over Dallas Stars | iNFOnews.ca
Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovsky (20) controls the puck in front of Dallas Stars’ Logan Stankoven, left, in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Newhook, Dobes propel surging Montreal Canadiens to 3-1 win over Dallas Stars | iNFOnews.ca
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) blocks a shot from Montreal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson (17) as defenseman Mathew Dumba, right, helps defend on the play in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Newhook, Dobes propel surging Montreal Canadiens to 3-1 win over Dallas Stars | iNFOnews.ca
Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene (95) slams Montreal Canadiens’ Kaiden Guhle (21) against the boards as they compete for the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Newhook, Dobes propel surging Montreal Canadiens to 3-1 win over Dallas Stars | iNFOnews.ca
Dallas Stars center Justin Hryckowian, bottom, is held by Montreal Canadiens’ David Savard (58) as the two compete for the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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