Habs Daily: Demidov Playoff Goal, Fowler Signs Contract, Suzuki

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

Montreal Canadiens News

SKA Saint-Petersburg avoided elimination by beating Dynamo Moscow 4-3 in overtime. Ivan Demidov scored a goal and added an assist, pushing his playoff production this season to three goals and two assists in five games. Demidov was given over 24 minutes TOI, making him one of the busiest SKA players on Friday. Coincidentally, or not, Demidov responds quite well when he’s given appropriate ice time.

Top goaltending prospect Jacob Fowler signed his entry-level contract, however, thanks to some crafty negotiating by Kent Hughes, it only kicks in next season (2025-26). In the meantime, Fowler will join the Laval Rocket in the AHL via an amateur tryout. It’s the best case scenario for the organization. [Impact Of Jacob Fowler Contract On Canadiens, Rocket]

Fowler made sure to thank the Boston College Eagles after signing his deal.

Jacob Fowler on IG:

“Thank you BC. It has always been my dream to play college hockey at Boston College. Truly such a special time and place in my heart that I wouldn’t trade for the world 🦅” pic.twitter.com/T2YmdE2ldq

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) April 5, 2025

Both the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Islanders won on Friday, keeping their dwindling playoff hopes alive for the time being. With seven games left on the docket, the Canadiens playoff odds are sitting at 53.5 percent, while the New York Rangers clocking-in at 31.5 percent. Don’t forget, regulation wins (RW) represents the first tiebreaker, and the Rangers have a significant edge in that statistical category.

Thanks to his penchant for scoring crucial, dramatic goals in bunches, Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki was named the player of the NHLPA Player of the Week. [Canadiens Mythbusting – Nick Suzuki Is Clearly A Number One Centre]

🫡 Suzy reporting for duty.

Nick Suzuki reached the 80-point mark for the first time, posting three straight multi-point outings to help lead the @CanadiensMTL to three consecutive wins as our NHLPA Player of the Week. pic.twitter.com/XbYFXiHq0S

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) April 4, 2025

National Hockey Now Network

Alex Ovechkin scored twice against Spencer Knight and the Blackhawks on Friday, tying Wayne Gretzky for the NHL’s all-time goal scoring record. [Florida Panthers]

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ presence in the Eastern Conference playoff race could end before the weekend does. [Pittsburgh Penguins]

If you’re impressed by the way that Patrick Kane can dance around the ice with the puck on his stick, you should see him in action as he tries to dance around the reasons for his night and day season with the Detroit Red Wings. [Detroit Red Wings]