After arriving in Toronto on Thursday night, Ivan Demidov was given a day to rest on Friday. He waited for his Montreal Canadiens teammates to join him after their game against the Ottawa Senators. While the Habs were in Ottawa, Demidov and his girlfriend did what every hockey-obsessed person does in their first time in Maple Leafs’ land: they visited the Hockey Hall of Fame.
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On Saturday morning, though, it was time to get to work for the Russian wonder. The Canadiens didn’t have a proper morning skate, which made sense since they will be playing the second part of a back-to-back tonight, but there was an optional skate, which is when Demidov skated for the first time in full Canadiens gear.
He got on the ice with Joshua Roy, Arber Xhekaj, and Emil Heineman, which likely means that none of them will be inserted in the lineup for the duel with the Maple Leafs, despite the 5-2 loss in Ottawa.
Demidov as he enters the ice as a member of the Montreal Canadiens for the first time, welcomed by Arber Xhekaj #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/eyQ2Q8M26g
— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) April 12, 2025
As for Demidov, Martin St-Louis already confirmed on Friday that he wouldn’t be making his debut in Toronto. This means that he’ll likely get to play on Monday night as the Canadiens welcome the Chicago Blackhawks to the Bell Centre.
Giving him a bit of action before the playoffs start, which the Canadiens now have a 98% chance of making, according to Moneypuck. I win in regulation against the Toronto Maple Leafs would make that a certainty and would be a welcome development, which could allow the coach to rest some of his older or injured players before entering the Spring dance.
Demidov in his first practice with the Canadiens, it was only an optional so there weren’t many players there #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/mxhtRqrjPM
— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) April 12, 2025
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