Habs’ Demidov focused on winning ahead of matchup with Caps’ Ovechkin

The 19-year-old Russian is focused on helping the Montreal Canadiens upset the top-seeded Washington Capitals in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

Ivan Demidov is excited to face off against Alex Ovechkin — but more importantly, he wants to win.

The 19-year-old Russian is focused on helping the Montreal Canadiens upset the top-seeded Washington Capitals in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

“Yeah, a little bit,” Demidov said when asked if facing the Capitals captain — and Russian legend — added significance to the series, beginning Monday in Washington. “But now I just want to help my team win.

So far, he has done just that.

Selected fifth overall at the 2024 draft, Demidov has energized the Canadiens fan base since — and well before — arriving in Montreal from Russia’s KHL a little more than a week ago.

Demidov routinely lit up social media feeds with highlight-reel plays while setting a KHL under-20 scoring record for SKA Saint Petersburg this season.

He lived up to the hype in his NHL debut, dishing a slick assist before scoring a spectacular first NHL goal in the first period of Montreal’s shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks last Monday.

“Really bleeping good,” was winger Cole Caufield’s scouting report. “His drive, his compete level, obviously his skating and puck handling have been really fun to watch.”