Newhook and Dobes propel surging Canadiens to 3-1 win over 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.

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.

Canadiens: Montreal defenseman 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.

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

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

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

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovsky (20) celebrates with the bench after scoring against the Dallas Stars in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

TORONTO (AP) — Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves, three Florida defensemen scored and the Panthers routed the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

The defending champion Panthers scored three times in a 7:53 span of the second period to pull away for their third straight victory.

“I wasn’t thinking about it too much,” Bobrovsky said when asked about opening the series with two losses. “I was just focusing on the next game.”

Game 6 is Friday night in Sunrise, Florida.

“I’m not a big believer in momentum,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “The series is closer than you think.”

Jesper Boqvist returned to score his first career playoff goal and also had an assist, and defensemen Aaron Ekblad, Dmitry Kulikov and Niko Mikkola also scored in the first two periods. In the third, A.J. Greer had his first career playoff goal and Sam Bennett added his sixth of the playoffs.

Bobrovsky missed a chance for his second straight shutout when Nicholas Robertson swept the puck in with 1:06 left for Toronto's first goal in 143 minutes 25 seconds. After a 5-4 overtime victory Friday night in Game 3, Bobrovsky made 23 saves Sunday night in a 2-0 victory.

“We have trust in Bob that you wouldn’t believe," Ekblad said. "It is unwavering.”

Joseph Woll stopped 20 of 25 shots for Toronto before giving way to Matt Murray after Greer's goal at 6:23 of the third. Murray made six saves on seven shots.

“I don’t think there’s really any excuse or explanation,” Toronto captain Auston Matthews said. “We’ve got to win a game to keep our season alive.”

Ekblad opened the scoring with 5:22 left in the first period, firing a wrist shot past Woll off a scramble.

Kulikov began the second-period spree at 6:08 with a slap shot from the right point that Toronto's Scott Laughton inadvertently deflected past Woll.

Boqvist, back in the lineup in place of the injured Evan Rodrigues after being a healthy scratch for two games, scored with 9:55 remaining. Boqvist finished at the left post off San Reinhart's cross-ice feed. Mikkola made it 4-0 with 5:59 left with a slapper from the left side.

Rodrigues was hurt on a hit from Oliver Ekman-Larsson in Game 4 that drew an interference penalty. With Rodrigues out, Boqvist slotted into a spot alongside Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov.

“It was a good opportunity for me,” Boqvist said. “I enjoyed it, and it probably helped I was playing with two of the best players in the world.”

Toronto added forwards Nick Robertson and David Kampf and sat Calle Jarnkrok and Pontus Holmberg. Robertson last played in Game 2 of the first round. Kampf dressed for the first time since April 2 when he was injured against Florida.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Florida Panthers' Jonah Gadjovich (12) is held back by linesman Kiel Murchison (79) as he goes after Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray (30) during third period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) pokes the puck away from Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares (91) as he tries to move past Panthers' Gustav Forsling (42) during first period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Florida Panthers' Jesper Boqvist (70) scores on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) during second period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares (91) hits Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (5) in front of teammate Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during third period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Tavares received a roughing penalty on the play. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Florida Panthers' Jonah Gadjovich (12) is held back by linesman Kiel Murchison (79) as he goes after Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray (30) during third period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (5) celebrates his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs with Sam Reinhart (13) during first period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)