Can Dobes Turn Things Around Before Fowler Takes Over in

Sometimes, a hockey player doesn't need a big speech or a major change to get back on track. He needs another chance to show what he can do. That's where Jakub Dobes finds himself with the Montreal Canadiens.

Dobes gets the start against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday after a difficult stretch to open the season. He's allowed five or more goals in each of his last three outings, and Jacob Fowler has taken advantage of his opportunity. For a young goalie, that's a tough situation to navigate.

But the Canadiens haven't given up on Dobes. They've given him another start, and what he does with it could help shape the team's goaltending plans.

Dobes’ Bad Stretch Doesn't Tell the Whole Story in Montreal.

It's easy to look at a few rough games and start wondering whether a goalie has lost his place. That's especially true when another young netminder is waiting for his chance. Fowler has given Montreal a reason to keep looking his way. When a goalie is making saves and helping the team win, a coach has every reason to give him more work. Martin St. Louis has to balance rewarding good performances with giving Dobes a fair chance to recover.

That's not always a simple decision. A goalie needs to play to find his rhythm, but he also needs to make enough saves to earn the next start. When things start going wrong, that can become a difficult cycle to break. Dobes is 25, and he still has room to develop. Three tough outings don't erase what he might become, just as a promising stretch from Fowler doesn't settle the long-term question in Montreal.

The Canadiens Have a Decision to Make in the Crease.

What makes this situation interesting is that the Canadiens may have two young goalies pushing for the same opportunity. Having two young goalies competing for the job gives Montreal options, but it still requires some careful decisions.

St. Louis appears willing to ride the hot hand. If Fowler keeps playing well, Dobes may have to wait for his next opportunity. If Dobes responds with a strong performance against San Jose, the competition could open up a bit. The important thing is not to turn this into a verdict on either goalie too early. Teams need more than one capable option over a long season, and Montreal has a chance to find out what it has in both players.

For Dobes, Tuesday is an opportunity to settle things down and remind everyone what he can do. He doesn't have to solve Montreal's goaltending situation in one night. He just needs to give the Canadiens a reason to believe he's ready for another start.

Sometimes, that's how a goalie gets his season back on track.