Ivan Demidov injury: Habs HC addresses young star's status after Nick Cousins' slash

Montreal Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov was on the receiving end of a dirty slash to the hand from Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins.

The incident occurred late in Monday's preseason game after Habs defenseman Arber Xhekaj had left due to an unrelated issue. Habs fans expressed concerns regarding Demidov.

Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier said post-game that Demidov wasn't seriously hurt, but coach Martin St. Louis clarified that while Demidov is fine, the team is monitoring him cautiously as a precaution.

“Not right now. He’s still being evaluated, so not right now," St. Louis said.

No stitches, fractures or missed shifts were reported as Ivan Demidov finished the game but was pulled early to avoid risk.

Ivan Demidov shines as Canadiens shut out Senators in preseason clash

The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-0 in the preseason clash on Tuesday. Oliver Kapanen opened the scoring for the Habs, putting them ahead 1-0 at 4:48 of the first period.

Patrik Laine extended the lead to 2-0 on the power play at 6:14 of the second period. Just over two minutes later, Alexandre Carrier increased the Habs’ lead to 3-0 at 8:30 of the second period.

Lane Hutson scored on the power play to make it 4-0 for the Habs at 4:27 of the third period. Kirby Dach’s power-play goal at 9:21 of the third period sealed the win for the Canadiens. Demidov recorded two assists in the game.

The Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators face each other one more time before the regular season, at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET.

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta