The Montreal Canadiens clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the shortened 2020-21 NHL season. As they matchup with the No. 1 seed in the East, the Washington Capitals, the Habs aren’t showing any respect for their competition, determined to shock the world. With a bold statement, Russian rookie Ivan Demidov made one thing clear about Alex Ovechkin, seemingly stirring the pot ahead of Game 1.
The Habs feature the youngest roster in the NHL, with an average age of 25.83 years, according to Elite Prospects. Montreal is undergoing an early puberty of sorts — they weren’t expected to become a playoff team this season, yet they proved the analytics wrong and are now vying to deliver one of the biggest upsets in Stanley Cup Playoff history, which would be fitting.
With young age comes recklessness, which could become a double-edged sword for the Canadiens. Moreover, Montreal will take one a very experienced roster in Washington, which features the all-time leading goalscorer in the league, Ovechkin.
Amid a historic season, during which ‘Ovi’ has been an example for almost every player in the NHL, fellow countryman Demidov — who’s played in only two games so far in his career — has poked the bear with an honest comment on arguably the best player to come out of the Motherland.
Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals warms up before playing at Capital One Arena on April 04, 2025.
“I love [Evgeni] Malkin much better than Ovi,” Ivan Demidov stated when asked whether facing Ovechkin meant going against his idol, via Montreal Canadiens’ YouTube channel. “[He was my idol] during my childhood only.”
see also
Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin makes honest admission about relationship with Penguins’ Sidney Crosby
Despite being in the NHL for less than two weeks, it wasn’t the first time Demidov stated he isn’t Ovechkin’s biggest fan, whatsoever. Previously, he had made something clear about his role models in the NHL.
How you like them apples?
Perhaps Demidov’s comments add fuel to the fire under Ovechkin, who has been on an absolute tear all season long. The Capitals‘ captain has scored 39 goals in 60 career games against the Canadiens, with Montreal ranking 12th among teams that have allowed the most goals to the most lethal goalscorer in NHL history.
Ghosts from the past
On April 21, the Canadiens will walk into a hostile environment inside Capital One Arena, where the best team in the East awaits. Washington is looking to hoist another Stanley Cup with Ovechkin, looking to move past the first round for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign, when they conquered the first Cup in franchise history.
Ivan Demidov poses for a portrait after being drafted by the Montreal Canadiens with the fifth overall pick during the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Sphere on June 28, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Habs and Caps have met just once in the playoffs — during the 2009-10 season — and the precedent set is one that still causes distress for fans in D.C. After winning the Presidents’ Trophy with 121 points, the Capitals lost in the first round to the Canadiens in seven games, squandering a 3-1 series lead.
SurveyHow will the Canadiens-Capitals series finish?
How will the Canadiens-Capitals series finish?
already voted 0 people
Those ghosts have reappeared in Washington, and it’s up to Ovechkin and the crew to put them to rest as the young, fearless Habs march into battle. History has a way of repeating itself, and the Canadiens could be looking to relive one of their biggest playoff highlights of the 21st century.
