Frank Nazar recorded a goal and an assist in regulation, then scored the only goal of a shootout to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 4-3 win a Montreal on Monday, preventing the Canadiens from clinching a playoff spot.
The Canadiens fell short despite increasing their home-ice point streak to 11 games (9-0-2).
Montreal (39-31-11, 89 points) is four points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second Eastern Conference wild-card berth. The Canadiens would clinch if Columbus loses either of its remaining two games, or if the Habs avoid a regulation loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday in their lone remaining contest.
The Blackhawks (24-46-11, 59 points) are 3-1-1 in their past five games as the rebuilding club tries to end the season on a high note.
Tyler Bertuzzi and Lukas Reichel scored for the Blackhawks. Arvid Soderblom saved all three of the Habs’ attempts in the shootout after stopping 18 of 21 shots in regulation and overtime.
Montreal’s Ivan Demidov had a goal and an assist in his NHL debut. The fifth overall pick of the 2024 NHL draft signed with the Canadiens last week after the completion of the KHL season.
Juraj Slafkovsky and Alex Newhook also scored for Montreal. Joel Armia had two assists, and Sam Montembeault stopped 22 of 25 shots.
It didn’t take long for Demidov to deliver on the hype. The 19-year-old Russian forward earned his first assist on Newhook’s goal six minutes into the first period, and then scored his first goal at the 13:32 mark.
The Blackhawks narrowed the deficit on Bertuzzi’s power-play tally 80 seconds before the first intermission. Nazar assisted on Bertuzzi’s goal, then added a power-play goal 16:41 into the second period.
Reichel put the Blackhawks ahead 5:39 into the third period. Landon Slaggert dropped an excellent saucer pass to Reichel streaking up the middle of the ice, and Reichel buried the shot.
With just under three minutes left in regulation, the Canadiens equalized on the power play. Slafkovsky got the last touch on a loose puck that squeaked past Soderblom and the post.
