Canadiens Fall Short Despite Demidov’s Dazzling Debut
Alright, let me walk you through what just went down at the Bell Centre. If you're a Canadiens fan, this one stings—a 4-3 loss in a shootout to the Chicago Blackhawks. And yeah, it’s another missed opportunity for the Habs to secure a playoff spot. But even through the disappointment, one name stole the show: Ivan Demidov.
This kid, only 19, just made his NHL debut, and let me tell you—he lit up the ice like it was his playground. Third shift in, and boom—he serves up a slick assist to Alex Newhook like a seasoned pro. The Bell Centre crowd was on its feet, and it didn’t stop there. Five shifts later, he buries his first NHL goal, and the place absolutely erupted. You could feel the electricity. Fans chanting his name, him grinning ear to ear on the bench like he just realized what it means to be part of hockey culture in Montréal. Pure magic.
But for all of Demidov’s brilliance, the team just couldn’t seal the deal. They had a 2-0 lead—thanks again to our new rookie hero—and still found a way to fumble it. Chicago came creeping back in, took advantage of some undisciplined play (we’re talking power plays that never should’ve happened), and by the third period, they were leading.
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Juraj Slafkovsky tied it up late in the third, and you thought, “Alright, here we go, maybe we pull this one off.” But no—Frank Nazar put the final nail in the coffin during the shootout.
What hurts most? This was supposed to be the game —the one where we lock in our playoff spot. Now, it all comes down to the final matchup against Carolina on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets face off against Philly. If the Jackets lose in regulation, Montreal might still squeak into the postseason. But that’s a whole lot of “ifs” for a team that could’ve just handled their business last night.
The frustrating part? Despite Demidov’s instant chemistry, the team still looked shaky defensively. Those two early Chicago goals? Both on the power play. And Kaiden Guhle’s aggressive hit that led to one of them? Totally avoidable. The Habs had gone four straight games killing penalties flawlessly, and then—bam—it falls apart at the worst possible time.
Look, no one’s blaming the kid. Demidov showed up. He dazzled. He gave fans something to believe in. But if the rest of the team doesn’t rise to the moment Wednesday, that electric debut might be the brightest part of what turns out to be a disappointing ending.
For now, all eyes are on that final game. And man, let’s hope it’s not too little too late.
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