Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov recorded two power-play assists in Sunday's 5-2 defeat to the Washington Capitals. Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield benefited from Demidov's playmaking talents, while Lane Hutson also logged assists on both plays. The 19-year-old Russian became the first teenager in franchise history to register multiple points in a playoff contest, getting on the score sheet for the first time in the postseason. Montreal now faces elimination in the next game, where Demidov may play a significant role again. He has stepped in for Patrik Laine (upper body) on the top power-play unit, and it's unclear whether Laine will be available after sitting out two contests.
Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov will make his NHL debut in Monday's matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 19-year-old is coming off an outstanding KHL campaign, during which he broke Kirill Kaprizov's U-20 scoring record with 49 points (19 goals, 30 assists) in 65 appearances. He looks to have a bright future but seems ready to contribute immediately for a Montreal team with a mediocre scoring record this season. In his debut, Demidov is set to skate on a line with Joel Armia and Alex Newhook and should get opportunities on the power play.