NHL Regular Season Recap
The NHL regular season concluded recently, revealing some bittersweet outcomes for fans, particularly in Columbus where the Blue Jackets missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The last time the franchise made it into postseason play was during the 2019-20 season, which was held under unique circumstances in a confined bubble due to the pandemic. This year, the Blue Jackets were mathematically eliminated from contention the evening before they played their final game of the season.
Excitement for Former Ohio State Players
Despite Columbus’s absence from the playoff scene, excitement remains for two former Ohio State University players who will be showcasing their skills in the NHL postseason. Jakub Dobeš, the goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens, and Mason Lohrei, a defenseman with the Boston Bruins, are both set to compete for the coveted Stanley Cup that begins on Saturday and continues until June.
Jakub Dobeš’s Journey
Jakub Dobeš has made a remarkable transformation from being the backup goaltender to firmly securing the starting position for Montreal. Over the course of the regular season, he started 42 games, achieving a solid record of 29 wins, 10 losses, and 4 overtime losses. His goals against average stands at 2.78, and he has successfully saved 90.1% of the shots faced. Dobeš’s contributions significantly helped the Canadiens accumulate an impressive total of 106 points in the regular season. Although he lost his last two matches before the postseason, he previously boasted a seven-game winning streak. His final appearance ended with a 4-2 loss against Philadelphia, who had secured their playoff berth the night prior.
Now, Dobeš prepares to confront the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team he faced three times throughout the regular season. His initial match against Tampa Bay ended poorly, with him conceding three goals before being replaced in a 6-1 defeat. However, he rebounded in his next two encounters with the Lightning, achieving a 4-1 victory and a 2-1 win at home. The Canadiens ended the season with an even record against Tampa Bay.
Dobeš’s playoff experience includes a brief stint in last year’s postseason, where he appeared in three games against the Washington Capitals. In that series, he recorded one win and two losses, capturing 52 out of 59 shots he faced before the Capitals eliminated Montreal.
Mason Lohrei’s Performance
On the other hand, Mason Lohrei joins the ranks of the Boston Bruins for this year’s playoffs, having played 73 games during the regular season and scoring 26 points. Lohrei’s season saw him achieving a career-high of seven goals, alongside a significant improvement in his plus/minus rating—jumping from a troubling -43 last year to a solid +17 this season. The Bruins enter the playoffs positioned as the first wild card team in the Eastern Conference, set to face the Atlantic Division champions, the Buffalo Sabres, who are making their first playoff appearance in 13 years.
Despite the Sabres’ recent surge in form, the Bruins hold an advantage, having won 3 out of 4 regular-season encounters against them, with Lohrei participating in three of those matches without putting up points. Lohrei’s playoff experience comes from a total of 11 games he played in the 2024 playoffs, where he managed to score one goal and provide three assists during the Bruins’ initial postseason run that ended in the second round.
Looking Ahead
As the playoffs approach, both Dobeš and Lohrei will look to make significant impacts for their respective teams, hoping to lead their franchises deep into the postseason as they chase hockey’s ultimate prize: the Stanley Cup.
