Montreal Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky (20) and Ivan Demidov (93) celebrate after Montreal defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 during an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER — Down two goals to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, the Montreal Canadiens didn't panic.

Instead, they leaned on their special teams.

A pair of power-play goals levelled the score and the Habs went on to claim a 4-3 victory over the Canucks.

The result shows how far the Canadiens have come in recent seasons, said captain Nick Suzuki.

“I think we panicked three years ago, for sure," he said. "And we've just learned and grown and just matured as a group. We know we can just continue to do our thing, and games open up for us. And then we can win those so it was definitely a mature effort from us late.”

Suzuki sparked the comeback in the second period, collecting a pass from rookie Ivan Demidov and blasting a sharp-angled shot in from under the faceoff circle to cut Vancouver's lead to 2-1.

Demidov, who had a goal and two assists on the night, said it was important for the Habs to gain some momentum with the man advantage.

"We needed a goal and we understand that," he said "Everyone, like, wants to score, so just do our job, score goal."

Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis added the 19-year-old winger to the first power-play unit after Patrik Laine went down with a core injury.

The Finnish sniper hasn't played since Oct. 16 and Montreal announced Saturday he is expected to be out for three to four months after having surgery.

“I've known all along that Demi can play on the first power play," St. Louis said. "I feel I got to a certain point with Demi where I felt like he had showed me that he's willing to play on the other side of the game, the defensive game, and he's bought in, and he's actually very attentive and trying to keep getting better. So for me, that was all signs led to, 'OK, it's time.'”

Montreal's power play has gained steam in recent weeks. After going 3-for-20 over the first five games of the season, the Canadiens are 3-for-8 with the man advantage over their last five.

“We're moving the puck quick. We're reading off each other. We're filling up different spots, and honestly, I liked how we played it today," said Juraj Slafkovsky, who had a goal and an assist Saturday — both on the power play.

“It needs to be like this every game, I feel like. Obviously there will be games where it's maybe not gonna work fully, but I feel like, if we get three chances, we need at least one from our power play every game.”

Timely calls "definitely" swung the momentum in Saturday's matchup, said Vancouver centre Elias Pettersson.

"They have a lot of good players, and if you give them too many opportunities, they might capitalize," he said. "I like our (penalty kill), we're playing good. But yeah, it’s tough.”

PENALTY KILL PROBLEMS

Vancouver's penalty kill was a strength through the first three games of the season, with the team killing 11 of the first 12 infractions it faced.

Now the Canucks have given up at least one power-play goal in five of their last six games.

The change comes after some of the team's stalwart penalty killers were sidelined by injuries, including centre Teddy Blueger and defenceman Derek Forbort.

“You need reps," Canucks head coach Adam Foote said of players who've stepped in over recent games. "You draw it up on the board but you’ve got to get out and play and get the feel for it.

"That’s probably part of it right now, you’ve got some guys that normally aren’t in those situations for that amount of time. But that’s the way it is.”

NEW ADDITION

Less than 48 hours after being acquired by the Canucks, Lukas Reichel slotted into Vancouver's second line on Saturday, skating between Evander Kane and Brock Boeser.

The Canucks picked up the 23-year-old forward from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 draft.

"I think, when I got the call, I packed for two hours and I went to the airport," Reichel said Saturday. "And it’s always tough to leave your buddies and team, but I think it's a good opportunity here for me, and I'm really looking forward to it. Great city, great team.”

Foote liked the way the new addition looked in his first appearance for the Canucks.

“He played great. Tough travel. I think he slept at the airport and got two hours sleep," the coach said. "He had a hell of a game for coming into a new environment. A lot of heat out there and he handled it well.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2025.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2025