Montreal, QC - October 14th Montreal Canadiens vs Seattle Kraken
With the Canadiens trailing 4-3 late in the third period, and a power play just expiring, Ivan Demidov received a well-timed pass from Laine and Gallagher and netted his first goal of the season to tie up the score 4-4 and force the game to OT.
DEMIDOV'S PATIENCE PAYS OFF AS HE TIES THE GAME WITH 2 MINUTES LEFT IN THE 3RD 👀 pic.twitter.com/uGKQ0BO75o
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 15, 2025
The Canadiens proceed to win the game in OT with a blistering goal from Cole Caufield, and move on to 3rd in the Atlantic Division, sitting at 3-1-0. There was a lot of concern floating around Demidov's usage throughout the first three games of the season, specifically on the power play. By finishing off this game with a goal and an assist from Demidov, he is quickly proving what his on-ice talent brings in tense situations and the worth he can prove on the power play.
When interviewed after the game, Demidov refers to his backhand shot as instinct, mentioning how his unit hadn't scored a power-play goal so far in the season, and was simply happy to achieve that goal while tying the game.
A lot of eyes are on Demidov, with high expectations on the young rookie's shoulder, as many fans are curious if a standout season from him will earn him the coveted Rookie of the Year. 4 games into the season, and Demidov currently has 1 goal, 2 assists for 3 points, and a 0+/-. With a career total of 11 games (including playoffs), Demidov has plenty of time to adjust to the NHL speed and will no doubt wow his quickly gathered fan base as the season progresses.