Monday night time was the extremely anticipated debut of Montreal Canadiens prospect Ivan Demidov. It was not sure he’d make his technique to the Canadiens following his KHL season however the contract scenario was found out and he was within the lineup as Montreal hosted the Chicago Blackhawks. Demidov began the sport on a line with Alex Newhook and Joel Armia, and is beginning on the second power-play unit, although he was moved throughout the lineup all sport lengthy.
It did not take Demidov lengthy to make an affect as he assisted on an Alex Newhook aim simply six minutes into the sport and seven:32 later he scored a aim of his personal:
I watched this sport from begin to end and Demidov was simply probably the most harmful Candiens all night time lengthy. Not solely did he not look misplaced, he excelled.
That is nonetheless the Montreal Canadiens, although, they usually misplaced to Chicago 4-3 in a shootout. Chicago fought again from the 2-0 deficit with power-play objectives from Tyler Bertuzzi and Frank Nazar (who additionally assisted the Bertuzzi aim) whereas Lukas Reichel scored his eighth of the yr. Nazar, particularly, appeared like an absolute pressure all sport lengthy. He now has 9 factors in his final 10 video games and has usually appeared very, excellent after getting a handful of video games below his belt. This child goes to be wonderful for a very long time.
Arvid Soderblom stopped 18 of the 21 pictures in opposition to for the win.
Juraj Slafkovsky scored Montreal’s third aim, making it 10 objectives and 10 assists in his final 25 video games.
Sam Montembeault took the loss, permitting three objectives on 25 pictures confronted.
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A optimistic step for Ottawa ahead Brady Tkachuk:
The Senators celebrity has been battling harm because the 4 Nations break however, if all goes nicely, it appears as if he could also be prepared for the beginning of the postseason.
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Dallas gave us an replace on Miro Heiskanen, I suppose:
We’re on the time of the season the place we get issues like “by no means not anticipated” and “hopeful to play” and so forth and so forth. We cannot get a agency timeline on something till Dallas’ season ends a technique or one other, however I’m working as if Heiskanen is out for no less than the primary spherical. Extra on him and the Stars a bit later.
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Quinn Hutson, brother of Lane and Cole, made his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night time. We’ll see the place issues stand when the group is wholesome – that they had a pile of men sitting on Monday night time – however it’s an opportunity for him to make an excellent impression because the group heads to the playoffs.
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Sam Bennett was again within the lineup for Florida on Monday night time. They’d a bunch of regulars again whereas others sat as they proceed to relaxation their gamers resulting in the postseason.
The New York Rangers welcomed Matthew Robertson to the lineup they usually took a 5-3 win in Florida. Juuso Parssinen, Matt Rempe, and JT Miller all registered a aim and an help whereas Jonny Brodzinski and Vincent Trocheck each scored. That offers Miller 34 factors in 31 video games with the Rangers, as he is been wonderful offensively together with his new group.
Ok’Andre Miller had two assists, two pictures, three blocks, and two PIMs in a really strong multi-cat night time.
Jonathan Fast stopped 27 of 30 pictures for the win.
Sam Reinhart scored twice (as soon as on the PP) and Carter Verhaeghe had the opposite tally for the Panthers. Reinhart wants another aim for his first profession 40-40 season.
Sergei Bobrovsky was in internet for all 5 objectives in opposition to on 25 pictures confronted.
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Detroit was at residence to Dallas on Monday night time and the Crimson Wings lit up the Stars for six objectives in a 6-4 win. Each Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider had a aim and two assists with Raymond helping on a Seider power-play aim. Seider completed the night time with two pictures, a block, and a success as nicely. These three factors additionally give him 43 on the yr, his highest mark since hitting 50 as a rookie again in 2021-22.
Jonatan Berggren registered a aim and an help whereas every of Alex DeBrincat, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Albert Johansson discovered the aim column.
Cam Talbot stopped 24 of the 28 pucks shot his means for his 21st win of the season.
Dallas acquired objectives from Lian Bichsel, Wyatt Johnston, Evgenii Dadonov, and Colin Blackwell within the loss. Additionally they rested each Thomas Harley and Esa Lindell as soon as once more.
Johnston’s aim was his 33rd of the yr, surpassing his whole from final season. Not a nasty surge from a participant who had simply three objectives when December began.
Jake Oettinger allowed 5 objectives on 36 pictures in defeat.
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Playoffs begin on Saturday, April 19th and we already know what a few of the matchups are going to be. Many of the seeding continues to be up for grabs however there are three first-round encounters already set in stone: Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils, Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche, and Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings. Let’s check out two of them: Carolina/New Jersey and Dallas/Colorado. Knowledge from Pure Stat Trick and Frozen instruments, and as of Monday afternoon.
Carolina (vs. New Jersey)
Carolina has had a really un-Carolina-like season. By objectives in opposition to per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, they sit 20th within the league and are worse than groups like Boston and Detroit. Final yr, they have been 7th and throughout the prior three seasons they averaged 2nd. This can be a group that’s way more leaky defensively than regular, which is what makes their signing of Alexander Nikishin way more intriguing.
What should not be discounted for Carolina, although, is how good their particular group play nonetheless is. On the season, Carolina is giving up the fewest objectives in opposition to per minute of penalty kill time as their PK has been pretty much as good because it often is. The ability play did battle in the midst of the marketing campaign, however since including Taylor Corridor to the highest PP unit, the they’re scoring 11.5 objectives per 60 minutes, which is 29% greater than it was with out him. Total, Carolina’s particular groups are +4 because the Commerce Deadline and that may assist masks their 5-on-5 points.
New Jersey (vs. Carolina)
The Devils acquired out to an amazing begin however hit a skid in the midst of the season after which the accidents began taking place: Jonas Siegenthaler on February 4th, Jack Hughes on March 2nd, and Dougie Hamilton on March 4th. By to the tip of December, the Devils have been eighth by each pictures and goals-for per 60 minutes in any respect strengths. In calendar 2025, the Devils are 29th by pictures per 60 minutes, and lifeless final by objectives per 60 minutes. Groups do not have to be offensive juggernauts to succeed, however being final in aim scoring for half a season definitely does not bode nicely.
The excellent news is that it seems Dougie Hamilton is near returning as he was warming up with the group earlier than their sport on Sunday. That definitely is a lift, however with out Hughes, this group continues to be with out not solely its prime offensive expertise, however one of many prime offensive abilities within the league. If New Jersey does not have the offensive juice to use Carolina’s one defensive weak point, they may want their goaltending to be very good.
Dallas (vs. Colorado)
Very like New Jersey, accidents in Dallas have vastly modified the outlook for this group, with Heiskanen on the prime of the checklist. What additionally hurts just isn’t having Nils Lundkvist. Whereas he’s nowhere close to the Heiskanen degree of affect, till Lundkvist was injured (January 21st), Dallas was outscoring the opposition 20-16 at 5-on-5 with Lundkvist on the ice, controlling 53.4% of the pictures. That’s strong work for a man utilized in a third-pair function.
Because the accidents to Heiskanen and Lundkvist, Dallas is 31st by pictures in opposition to per minute at 5-on-5 with solely Anaheim rating worse. By objectives in opposition to per minute, they’re 16th, and that’s with the 7th-best save share. Had it not been for wonderful goaltending, the objectives in opposition to can be nicely under common. Dallas is sweet sufficient offensively to go toe-to-toe with any group within the league, however vital accidents to the blue line have made them very wobbly defensively.
Colorado (vs. Dallas)
Contemplating the place they have been 4 months in the past, it’s curious that of those two groups, Colorado is more likely to head into the postseason the healthiest. We nonetheless do not know the standing of Nathan MacKinnon, who was shut down for the ultimate few video games, however assuming he’s good to go, the group may have him, Valeri Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen, Martin Necas, Brock Nelson, Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Sam Girard, and Mackenzie Blackwood all good to go. They could even be getting Gabriel Landeskog again after his three-year absence as he returned to sport motion within the AHL. If each MacKinnon and Landeskog are again for Sport 1 of the postseason, it might give Colorado the very best prime two strains within the league.
Colorado had terrible goaltending to begin the season and overhauled their netminding tandem in early December. Since December 1st, they’re 4th within the league by factors share and a couple ofnd by aim share (Tampa Bay is on the prime). So long as MacKinnon is wholesome for the beginning of the postseason, and given the accidents to Dallas, this can be a matchup the place Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger might want to steal a few video games for the Stars to advance.
