Demidov Admits Canadiens Still Lack a Vasilevskiy Answer

Ivan Demidov said demidov has no clear answer for breaking through Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Montreal heads into Game 5 tied 2-2 with Tampa Bay still looking for more offense. The Canadiens meet the Lightning on Wednesday night in Tampa Bay after generating just 50 five-on-five scoring chances through the first four games.

Demidov on Vasilevskiy

“They have a pretty good goalie, so it is pretty hard to score with him. We should change something, but I don't so far exactly what,” Demidov said Tuesday after practice. It was a blunt read on the series from one of Montreal’s younger voices, and it landed at a point when the Canadiens need cleaner looks, not just more volume.

Vasilevskiy has forced that issue. He was the Vezina Trophy runner-up last season and led the league in wins this season, and he has already held Montreal in check at different points in this series. The Canadiens scored six goals in their final two regular-season meetings with him, then put up four in Game 1, but they have not found the same pressure since.

Montreal’s shot problem

The deeper concern is the chance count. Montreal produced only six five-on-five scoring chances in Game 4 and has reached just 50 through four games, while its Corsi For percentage sits at 44.03 percent against the Lightning. That is more than eight fewer scoring chances per game than the Canadiens averaged in the regular season, and their Corsi For rate has dropped more than four percentage points from that level.

That leaves Game 5 with a simple demand: create more at even strength or keep asking Demidov and the rest of the attack to solve a goalie who has allowed a save percentage above.900 only once in the series. The Canadiens are tied 2-2, and the margin for another quiet night in Tampa Bay is gone.