Demidov's Debut: A Night of Magic and Near Misses in Montreal
Okay, so you know how sometimes a hockey game feels like it's going to be just another game, and then BAM! It completely explodes with drama? That was Tuesday night in Montreal. The Habs were facing the Blackhawks, a must-win game if they wanted to keep their playoff hopes alive – their first playoff appearance since 2021 was on the line! And to make things even crazier, it was also the NHL debut of Ivan Demidov, this kid everyone's been calling the best prospect outside the league in, like, ever.
The Bell Centre was buzzing. You could practically feel the electricity in the air – a potent mix of excitement for Demidov and, let's be honest, a healthy dose of nervous energy for the team's playoff chances.
A Debut to Remember
Demidov's first shift? Pretty quiet, nothing too flashy. But his second shift? Forget about it. This kid is seriously something else. He pulled off this incredible inside-out move, just completely dusting a defender, and then *assisted* Alex Newhook's goal. Honestly, who saw that coming? And it didn't end there. Not two shifts later, he scores his first NHL goal! A total fake-out move that left the goalie looking utterly bewildered, followed by a slick backhand finish. The place went absolutely wild. It wasn't just a good performance; it was electrifying. His speed, his puck skills, his hockey IQ... it was all beyond his years.
A Heart-Stopping Finish, and a Tough Loss
Even with Demidov's two-point game, and Juraj Slafkovsky's late power-play goal that tied things up, the Canadiens couldn't quite pull it off. They lost 4-3 in a shootout. The Blackhawks, thanks to Frank Nazar's winning goal, proved to be a tough nut to crack. The Habs showed some serious brilliance, extending their home-ice point streak to an impressive 11 games (9-0-2), but those defensive lapses really hurt them. You know how sometimes things just spiral? That's kind of what happened in some key moments. They struggled to control the puck when it mattered most.
The playoff dream? Still alive, but it's hanging by a thread. Seriously, nail-biter.
What's Next? A Whole Lot of Hockey
Everything now hinges on their final game against the Carolina Hurricanes. A win, or even a single point, could be enough to snag a playoff spot, depending on what the Columbus Blue Jackets do in their remaining games. It's a tense situation, to say the least. But regardless of what happens, Demidov's debut injected this incredible energy into the whole organization. His performance was phenomenal, and it's given everyone a huge boost of optimism for the future. A thrilling playoff run is still possible, and even if it doesn't happen this year, the future looks bright in Montreal.
