Jakub Dobeš concerned as Montreal Canadiens face recurring Bell Centre bounce issue before Buffalo Sabres NHL Game 6

The Montreal Canadiens have another weird worry heading into Game 6 of their NHL series against the Buffalo Sabres. The team is frustrated by a few weird puck bounces and the Bell Centre Zamboni door has impacted games a few times during the 2026 season. Goalie Jakub Dobeš and a few Canadiens players are looking for unpredictable bounces in the crucial playoff battle, reports say.

Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson scored in Game 4 after a clumsy bounce of the puck behind the net, bringing the issue to the forefront again. The Bell Centre ice surface is a big NHL news story with similar incidents happening to Canadiens prospect Jacob Fowler previously and to Jakub Dobeš again earlier this season.

Montreal Canadiens players concerned about Bell Centre puck deflections in NHL Game 6

The biggest problem for the Montreal Canadiens is the strange way the puck moves around the Bell Centre Zamboni door area. Media in Montreal say the puck has deflected off the structure behind the net dangerously and unpredictably several times this season in NHL games.

Tage Thompson was trying to make a simple dump-in play in Game 4 against the Buffalo Sabres, but the puck took an unexpected bounce off the corner of the gate toward the crease. Jakub Dobeš looked stunned as the puck hopped over the goal line.

Earlier in 2026, the Canadiens had found themselves in similar situations. On April 7, another strange bounce nearly cost them a goal against the Florida Panthers before Dobeš recovered. Canadiens prospect Jacob Fowler also allowed a goal against the Detroit Red Wings on an odd deflection from the same spot.

The timing of the issue is becoming more and more important as Montreal plays for its playoff life against the Buffalo Sabres. Arena quirks are common throughout the NHL, but repeated incidents in the same area of ice have raised some concern within the Canadiens locker room.

For Montreal, avoiding costly mistakes along the boards could be one of the deciding factors in the series. The Canadiens likely will look to manage the puck and be conscious of defense around the Bell Centre corners on Saturday night. A weird bounce in Game 6 could turn the momentum in one of the biggest games of the Montreal season very fast.

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