Frank Nazar scored the lone goal in the shootout to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night, spoiling the highly anticipated NHL debut of Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov.
Nazar, who also had a goal and an assist in regulation, helped Chicago rally from an early 2-0 deficit. Tyler Bertuzzi and Lukas Reichel each netted goals during regulation, while goaltender Arvid Soderblom turned aside 18 shots for the Blackhawks.
For the Canadiens, Demidov impressed in his debut with a goal and an assist, joining an elite group as just the third teenager in franchise history to score in his first NHL game. Juraj Slafkovsky and Alex Newhook also found the back of the net, but Montreal dropped its third straight game in a crucial playoff push. Sam Montembeault made 22 saves in the loss.
Chicago capitalized on two key power-play opportunities to erase the early deficit. Bertuzzi scored late in the first period, followed by Nazar’s one-timer at 16:41 of the second to tie the game. Reichel gave the Blackhawks a 3-2 lead before Slafkovsky's power-play goal with under three minutes left forced overtime.
In a controversial shootout moment, Nazar’s attempt was initially ruled no goal but was overturned after review, securing the win for Chicago after Montreal's next shooter missed.
Canadiens Playoff Picture
Montreal sits at 89 points with one game remaining — a home finale Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. They currently lead Columbus by four points, though the Blue Jackets have two games left to play, keeping the final Eastern Conference playoff berth in question.
Historic Debut for Demidov
Demidov made an immediate impact, assisting on Newhook's opening goal before scoring one of his own. The Bell Centre crowd erupted in a standing ovation as public address announcer Michel Lacroix announced his first NHL goal, marking a memorable debut for the young star.
Notable Stat
Demidov joins Mark Hunter (1981) and Bernie Geoffrion (1950) as the only teenage players in Canadiens history to score in their NHL debut.
What’s Next
- Blackhawks: Travel to Ottawa to wrap up the season on Tuesday.
- Canadiens: Host the Hurricanes on Wednesday with playoff hopes still alive.
