Nazar scores in shootout to give Blackhawks 4-3 win over Canadiens
[April 15, 2025]
MONTREAL (AP) — Frank Nazar scored the only goal of the shootout,
and the Chicago Blackhawks beat Montreal 4-3 on Monday night, spoiling
Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov's NHL debut.
Nazar had a goal and an assist, and Tyler Bertuzzi and Lukas Reichel
also scored in regulation as Chicago rallied from a 2-0 deficit to take
a 3-2 lead. Arvid Soderblom stopped 18 shots. |
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) looks on after being
scored against by Chicago Blackhawks' Frank Nazar (not shown) during
second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, April 14,
2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP) |
|
Demidov had a goal and an assist, and Juraj
Slafkovsky and Alex Newhook also scored for the Canadiens, who
lost their third straight with a chance to clinch a playoff
spot. Sam Montembeault finished with 22 saves.
The Canadiens have 89 points — four more than Columbus with one
game remaining Wednesday at home against the Carolina
Hurricanes. The Blue Jackets have two games left.
In the tiebreaker, officials initially ruled Nazar's attempt a
no-goal before overturning the call after Montreal’s next
shooter made his attempt.
Slafkovsky tied the score on the power play with 2:57 left in
regulation. Lane Hutson had an assist on the play, giving him 65
points on the season to pass Chris Chelios for most by a rookie
defenseman in franchihse history.
Takeaways
Blackhawks: Trailing 2-0, Chicago scored twice on the power play
to tie the score. Bertuzzi struck first with 80 seconds left in
the first period before Nazar beat Montembeault with a one-time
at 16:41 of the second.
Canadiens: Montreal was hemmed in its own zone during a dismal
second period, where Chicago could have taken a lead if not for
Montembeault bailing the Canadiens out with multiple big stops.
Key moment
Canadiens fans gave Demidov a deafening ovation after he set up
Newhook’s opening goal. The youngster sat on Montreal’s bench,
mouthed a couple of words and cracked a big smile while public
address announcer Michel Lacroix announced the goal amid the
Bell Centre bedlam.
Key stat
Demidov became the third teenager in Canadiens franchise history
to score a goal in his NHL debut, joining Mark Hunter (1981) and
Bernie Geoffrion (1950).
Up next
Blackhawks play at Ottawa on Tuesday to finish season, and
Canadiens host Carolina on Wednesday in finale.
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