Habs Daily: Ivan Demidov Shines, Early-Season Woes

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Wednesday.

Montreal Canadiens News

Top prospect Ivan Demidov assisted on no less than four goals during SKA Saint Petersburg’s 8-0 dismantling of Kunlun Red Star. The multipoint effort pushes his season totals to five goals and six assists in 18 games. More importantly, it should alleviate some of the concerns regarding his usage in the KHL.

Demidov did all this in under 12 minutes of ice time, a testament to his ability to generate offence while receiving limited opportunities.

Ivan Demidov, the current KHL Rookie of the Week, in an 8-0 SKA win today:

4 assists
3 shots on goal
11:56 mins

He now has 5G & 10A for 15P in 19G. pic.twitter.com/i6wZ9gtYUp

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) October 23, 2024

Habs fans have started to express a legitimate level of concern regarding the team’s recent play, but it’s not a matter of impatience toward the rebuild, as much as it’s a desire to see the team give an honest effort every night.  [Canadiens Hit Point Of Diminishing Returns On Selling Hope]

National Hockey Now Network

Some Flyers players have chalked up the poor run of form to a lack of finishing in front of goal, but the eye test and the stats confirm that the cut runs much deeper than that. The reality is that the Flyers really haven’t done anything well so far this year, aside from penalty-killing. [Philadelphia Flyers]

The Penguins’ biggest problems take up approximately $25 million in cap space per year. And the second-biggest problem is a gargantuan hole in the lineup. [Pittsburgh Penguins]

Their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning the other night was supposed to be a statement. A bounce back after a poor effort on home ice against the Washington Capitals two days prior. Instead, they rolled over, laid there, and let the Lightning put up eight goals on them.. [New Jersey Devils]