Canadiens host Devils in 1pm game

The Montreal Canadiens returned to home ice to host the New Jersey Devils, and a familiar face got the nod between the pipes for the Devils - Jake Allen.

Montreal opened the game with their legs under them, but the Devils have a quick-strike offence, and you can't blink for a second against them. As has become pretty regular, Devils forward Jesper Bratt scored the opening goal of the game and the lone tally of the opening period. Bratt snapped a shot past Samuel Montembeault at the 13:43 mark of the period, with assists going to Tomas Tatar and Dougie Hamilton.

The Canadiens head to the dressing room with a one-goal deficit to climb out of. New Jersey leads the shot battle by just a hair - 9-8. It was a tight-checking period, and the Canadiens' blueline has done a respectable job slowing down the speedy Devils attack.

With the middle frame nearly five minutes old, the shots are deadlocked at 11 apiece. Montreal has been attacking hard against the Devils' defence, even registering a couple of high-danger chances on the power play. Patrik Laine had a couple of great looks with his great one-timer, but Allen stood tall.

Kirby Dach also had a golden opportunity just after the power play ended, when Alexandre Carrier drove to the net on a 2-on-1 rush. Carrier just missed Dach with a cross-crease pass, which was the most dangerous for the Habs of the night. They came close, but Allen and the Devils' defence bent but didn't break.

Montreal drew some momentum from their power play, despite not scoring, which has carried them to a couple of close calls. Allen has come to play, and the Canadiens have come to expect nothing less from their former backup. The former 2008 second-round selection by the St. Louis Blues has turned aside all 15 of the Habs shots nearly thirty minutes into the game.

New Jersey hemmed the Habs in their zone, and that seldom ends well for the defending team. The Devils doubled their lead after Nico Hishchier put home a rebound off Bratt's attempt on Montembeault. The Canadiens are in another hole, but they haven't lacked effort, puck luck, however, is a different story.

New Jersey has two goals on 13 shots, and Martin St. Louis's troops have failed to register anything on 18 shots. 6:18 remains on the clock for the second period, and for the most part, momentum has swayed the Habs way. But the scoreboard displays a two-goal deficit.

Despite a 21-15 lead in shots, Montreal still trails 2-0, but former Canadien Jonathan Kovacevic took his second penalty of the game, heading to the sin bin for hooking against Caufield, with seconds left in the period.

The Canadiens need something to change in the third period because to this point all their effort has been for naught. A spark is required, and hopefully it comes from a speech between periods or something. Indeed, they will need to roll up their sleeves.

Montreal failed to score and registered just one shot on the man advantage. The Devils, however, registered a shot of their own. Then before the power play ended, Jack Hughes scored his 24th goal of the season. The Habs will need to dig deep to get anything out of this game.

And with 9:51 on the clock, Luke Hughes scored a slapshot goal, which put a nice bow on the Devils afternoon. Well, until Owen Beck was awarded a penalty shot after Luke Hughes interfered with him. He is still in search of his first NHL goal, so this could be interesting.

Allen stood tall, however, and with 15 seconds remaining in regulation, you hate to say the word, but it looks that way. Shutout for Allen.

Ivan Demidov scores twice in KHL all-star debut game

If Ivan Demidov is playing, it is awfully difficult not to talk about what he is doing, will do or has already done. Before anybody in North America was coherent, unless they were sipping on some hot java, Vanya as he is called in Russia, was busy helping Team Bobrov beat Team Tarasov 9-6. Demidov's first goal was a nice individual effort, displaying his puck skills and patience.

Demidov outwaited the opposing goaltender, opting to pull the puck around him, before finishing with a nice backhand. He displayed his great edges, and ability to drive the puck wide and hold off defenders before tucking the puck home. It was a gentlemanly finish and almost a nod to the fact that he will score many more.

Demidov's first tally of the game, was the prettier goal of his two on the day.

His second goal was on a penalty shot, and I think it was pretty encouraging to see Demidov work to get the goalie moving. Demidov is a tactician with the puck on his stick, scanning and looking to move the puck to one spot while shooting somewhere else. The 2024 fifth overall pick completely fooled the goaltender getting him to drop, before firing a quick release wrist shot between his trapper and mask, just over his shoulder.

Demidov also competed in the skills competition, almost scoring one of the more creative shootout attempts that I have seen. He did a puck-on-a-string sort of move, with the puck attached to the top of his stick. Demidov did his little dipsy-doodle routine, before just missing the net with a joust-style stick toss.

Mr. Demidov, you are a wizard, and the Habs could use some of your magic.