On Tuesday, the Montreal Canadiens announced that star winger Ivan Demidov will be sidelined for two to four weeks with an apparent lower-body injury. The loss is a sizeable blow to a Habs forward group that has rounded into form early this season, scoring eight goals in just two games.
It's also a tough break for Demidov, who started the season hot with a goal and an assist, a point-per-game pace through two games. The 20-year-old Russian import is coming off a sensational rookie season in which he recorded 19 goals and 43 assists for 62 points in a full 82-game campaign.
Even as the competition elevated in the playoffs, Demidov remained a standout, posting three goals and six assists for nine points in 19 games to help Montreal reach the Eastern Conference Final.
Ivan Demidov joins a growing list of injured players for the Montreal Canadiens
His absence also hits his linemates, Alex Newhook and Juraj Slafkovsky, who have yet to record a point through two games. With their unit's playmaker out of the lineup, the duo will likely have a more difficult time generating offense.
Demidov joins a growing list of injured Canadiens that already includes Oliver Kapanen, Alexandre Carrier and Kaiden Guhle. The injuries are beginning to stack up for a Montreal team that was otherwise off to a strong start.
As for who steps into the lineup, Kirby Dach is likely to move up to the second line at right wing, while 22-year-old Florian Xhekaj is expected to slot in on the fourth line alongside Jake Evans and Josh Anderson. Dach did not play with Newhook and Slafkovsky last season, so the trio would be a fresh look if the coaching staff puts them together.
The new look fourth line has some history together with Xhekaj, Evans and Anderson having shared the ice for just under 21 minutes over three games last season, combining for one goal while allowing one against.
With Demidov out, that unit is likely to get a longer look this time around, and its ability to hold its own could play a big role in how Montreal weathers the next few weeks without one of its brightest young stars.
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