Habs' Demidov comes out flying with goal, assist in first NHL game
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Montreal Canadiens highly-touted prospect Ivan Demidov wasted no time making an impact in his first career NHL game.
On just his second shift of the game, the 19-year-old Russian right winger made a nice centering pass from behind the goal line to forward Alex Newhook, who netted his 15th goal of the season on a one-timer to give the Canadiens a 1-0 lead over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Demidov made an impressive move around Blackhawks defenceman Connor Murphy to setup the pass.
On his very next shift, Demidov sent the Bell Centre into a frenzy when he scored his first career goal at the 13:32 mark of the opening period, giving the Habs a 2-0 lead.
Demidov took advantage of a favourable bounce off the end boards before deking around Blackhawks goalie Arvid Soderblom for the backhand goal.
The Canadiens would end up dropping the game, 4-3, in a shootout, missing an opportunity to clinch a postseason berth for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
Montreal is four points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with one game remaining on their regular season schedule. The Habs host the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday in their finale while the Jackets battle the Flyers in Philadelphia on Tuesday and take on the visiting New York Islanders on Thursday.
The Blue Jackets need to win their remaining two games in regulation and have the Canadiens lose their finale in regulation to make the playoffs.
Aside from netting his first goal and assist, Demidov was a plus-1 over 16:56 of ice time, adding three shots on goal and one hit.
Selected fifth overall by the Canadiens in the 2024 NHL Draft, Demidov scored 19 goals and 30 assists over 65 games with St. Petersburg SKA in the KHL this season.
Montreal signed him to a three-year entry-level contract last week.