Rookie Heroics! Demidov’s Late Goal and Fowler’s Saves Lift Canadiens Past Senators
A tense rivalry battle in Ottawa delivered drama right down to the final minutes and two young stars stepped into the spotlight to carry the Montreal Canadiens to a crucial victory.
The Canadiens edged the Ottawa Senators three to two in a tightly contested matchup and the story of the night was youth rising to the moment. With Montreal missing its leading goal scorer due to illness, pressure shifted onto the rest of the lineup. And it was rookie forward Ivan Demidov who answered that call in the most decisive way possible.
Late in the third period, with the game locked in a two-two deadlock, Demidov pounced on a rebound in front of the net and buried the puck to give Montreal the lead. It was a clutch goal that silenced the home crowd and proved to be the difference in a game where every inch of ice mattered.
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But the Canadiens did not get there alone. Behind them stood goaltender Jacob Fowler, who delivered one of his strongest performances of the season. Fowler turned aside 32 shots and made several key saves during the frantic final minutes, especially after Ottawa pulled its goalie for an extra attacker. At one point he even shut down a breakaway opportunity, preserving the narrow lead and sealing the victory.
This win carries real weight in the NHL standings. Montreal is now riding a three-game winning streak and has climbed into a tie for second place in the Atlantic Division with 82 points. That puts them firmly in the playoff conversation as the regular season begins to wind down.
For Ottawa, the loss is a painful setback. The Senators are still battling for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but they now trail the Boston Bruins by five points for the final wild-card position. With time running short in the season, every missed opportunity becomes magnified.
There were other milestones on the night as well. Juraj Slafkovský added a goal and continued building an impressive early career, surpassing a long-standing franchise record for points by a Canadiens player before the age of 22. Meanwhile Alexandre Texier scored in his return to the lineup, helping Montreal stay within striking distance before the decisive third-period breakthrough.
What this game revealed is something every contender needs late in the season: depth, resilience and young players willing to rise under pressure. For Montreal, those ingredients are starting to come together at exactly the right time.
And as the playoff race intensifies across the NHL, games like this one could shape the entire postseason picture. Stay with us for continuing coverage and the latest updates from around the league as the push toward the playoffs accelerates.
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