Ovechkin vs Demidov – The Russian Showdown You Can’t Miss
Two Russian supernovas—one polished into legend, one fresh from a midnight flight—are about to set Capital One Arena on fire. On the right, Alexander Ovechkin, aka the Great 8, whose 895 goals bulldozed Gretzky’s Everest just two weeks ago. On the left, nineteen‑year‑old Ivan Demidov, the “Demigod” who tore up the KHL and signed with Montreal before jet‑lag could catch him. Tonight, experience and ambition collide in Game 1, and every shift will either extend a dynasty or trigger an upset Montreal hasn’t tasted since 2010.
Washington stormed to 111 points, locking down home ice and a top‑three power play. Montreal clawed through the wild‑card chaos on a 7‑2‑1 heater, armed with speed, belief, and zero fear. The last time these franchises met in the playoffs, the eighth‑seed Habs erased a 3‑1 deficit and sent D.C. into therapy. Capitals fans still flinch at the memory, and the Canadiens would love nothing more than to hit replay on live television tonight.
Demidov racked 52 points in just 58 KHL games—no teenager had ever cracked 49. The previous high‑water mark belonged to Kirill Kaprizov at 42, and even future NHL stars like Evgeny Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko topped out in the mid‑30s. Demidov blew past them with a highlight reel, backhand saucers through traffic, and a snapshot that touches 97 mph.
Better yet, nearly half his points came at five‑on‑five, proving he doesn’t need power‑play shelter to torch grown men. Russian analysts called it the most dominant U‑20 season since the league’s founding, and scouts now wonder aloud if Montreal just stole a top‑five talent for the price of an entry‑level deal.
