Demidov gets standing ovation after 1st NHL point

Ivan Demidov didn’t waste any time after taking the ice on Monday, and the crowd at Bell Centre seemed to appreciate it.

Just six minutes into his NHL career, the Montreal Canadiens rookie recorded his first NHL point (an assist on Alex Newhook’s first period goal). After Demidov’s name was announced to the crowd, Canadiens fans in attendance showed their appreciation with a standing ovation.

To add to the excitement of the evening, Demidov scored his first career NHL goal just seven minutes later.

Demidov was the No. 5 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and signed an entry-level contract with the Canadiens on April 8.

Before making his NHL debut, the 19-year-old forward played in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), leading SKA St. Petersburg with 49 points (19 goals, 30 assists) in 65 games. He had five points in six playoff games before the team was eliminated on April 6.