Suzuki has 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) during a nine-game point streak, the longest in the NHL this season.
“First look, I saw the goalie, he’s kind of like ready for my shot, second I saw [Suzuki] on the back door, just passed it to him,” said Demidov, the No. 5 pick by Montreal in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Slafkovsky tied it 2-2 on another power play 1:39 into the third period. Lane Hutson’s point shot hit Demidov in the slot, and he passed the loose puck to Slafkovsky at the bottom of the right circle for a quick shot past a sprawling Lankinen.
“We know he’s that type of player. We know he’s going to find guys,” Slafkovsky said. “We know he has great hands, moves really well and we’re happy to have him on [the first power play unit] obviously.”
Defenseman Mike Matheson scored on a screen shot from between the top of the face-off circles at 8:19 to put the Canadiens ahead 3-2.
Demidov scored on a deflected short-side one-timer from the right face-off dot at 11:09 to make it 4-2.
“I’ve known all along that ‘Demi’ can play on the first power play,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “I got to a certain point with Demi where I felt like he had showed me that he’s willing to play on the other side of the game, the defensive game, and he’s bought in, and he’s actually very attentive and trying to keep getting better. So for me, that was all signs led to, ‘Okay, it’s time.’ And also it allows me to give him a little more ice time.”
