The standard template for how I prepare the How to Watch articles is a cover photo of the Montreal Canadiens and their opponent for that night. However, we aren't going to be naive and say the story of Monday night's game won't be the debut of Ivan Demidov. The Canadiens would've loved to clinch a playoff spot this past weekend to give Demidov a couple of games out of the pressure, but that wasn't the case. The Canadiens now need a point against the Chicago Blackhawks, and Demidov will likely play a massive role whichever way it goes.
How to Watch Chicago Blackhawks vs. Montreal Canadiens
Date: Monday, April 14, 2025
Time: 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT
Venue: Bell Centre
How to Watch: Prime, RDS, CHSN, FuboTV
The Canadiens find themselves in a rough situation as they enter this game. The Columbus Blue Jackets are on a roll, and could steal the Canadiens' playoff spot if they win the next two games. Montreal needs at least a point over these next two games to clinch their spot, but two regulation losses will take their fate out of their own hands. Two Blue Jackets wins and two Canadiens regulation losses will end the playoff dreams.
The Canadiens still have a good chance of making the postseason. They get one of the worst teams in the league in the Blackhawks on Monday evening, and then a Carolina Hurricanes team on Wednesday that won't have anything to play for in their last games of the season. It might even be a situation where Carolina sits some of their stars, but the Canadiens could be their last tune-up game as they end the season on Thursday night against the Ottawa Senators.
Martin St. Louis must be begging for the Canadiens to finish the job on Monday evening. Jakub Dobes has been lights out in his last two starts, and Sam Montembeault has been struggling. Prediction: if the Canadiens lose this game in regulation, all the narrative surrounding the game on Wednesday will be who should be the starting goalie. The best-case scenario for St. Louis is Montembeault getting it out of the way before the controversy begins. Even though, that could be a conversation that is approaching for the first round if they do make the postseason.