Photo credit: � David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The Canadiens had to win last night, whether it be in regulation, overtime, or a shootout, and a specific play by Ivan Demidov may have been why the team lost.

Ivan Demidov scored and added an assist in his first NHL game, but it wasn’t enough as the Montreal Canadiens fell 4-3 in a shootout to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, losing another chance to secure a playoff spot.

Frank Nazar won the shootout for Chicago (24-46-11), whose initial goal was waved off until a video review confirmed it. Patrik Laine was wide on Montreal’s next attempt.

The Canadiens (39-31-11) squandered a 2-0 lead after Tyler Bertuzzi, Lukas Reichel, and Nazar scored. Juraj Slafkovsky tied the game with a power-play goal late in the third, and Alex Newhook also scored.

Sam Montembeault stopped 22 shots, but it was not enough to stop Montreal’s third straight loss. Lane Hutson set a record with his 65th point, a rookie defenseman franchise record for most points, surpassing Chris Chelios.

Demidov, the 19-year-old Russian sensation and 2024 fifth overall draft pick, was electric early, setting up Newhook’s goal on his third shift and scoring his first goal later with a smooth deke about midway through the first period.

Despite his brilliant performance, Demidov stopped skating on a backcheck

The Bell Centre erupted, but later the fans were angered, especially on social media, by his play on a crucial backcheck attempt.

In the second period, Demidov appeared to stop skating as Chicago skated up on an odd-man rush, directly resulting in a Blackhawks goal and being ridiculed on the internet.

Montreal is in a close hold on the final Eastern Conference wild card with 89 points, four ahead of Columbus. The Blue Jackets have two games remaining, and Montreal has one, on Wednesday against the Hurricanes.