David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Canadiens Player Sends Clear Message After Senators Targeted Ivan Demidov

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Nov 3, 2025 11:16 AM ET

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble didn’t hesitate when Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins came back through Bell Centre on Saturday night.

Weeks after Cousins’ preseason slash on Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov, Struble delivered his own message during Montreal’s 4–3 overtime win.

The Habs defenseman dropped the gloves with 18 minutes, 45 seconds left to play in the third period and the game tied at 2, settling a feud that lingered since training camp.

“When you have a guy like that taking a shot at your star young player, that was a bad play,” Struble said. “None of us liked it. We were thinking about it. This is the first time we played him since. That’s on our minds. You can’t go around trying to hurt our best players.”

Jayden Struble vs. Nick Cousins. pic.twitter.com/Z6LGn0AWGb
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) November 2, 2025

Cousins spent most of the night trying to avoid both Struble and Montreal’s usual enforcer, Arber Xhekaj, before finally being caught after two full periods.

The fight was brief but decisive, ending with Cousins bloodied and leaving the game.

Struble, 24, said there was no personal vendetta, just a need to hold opponents accountable for their actions, even more in preseason exhibitions.

Habs HC Martin St. Louis on Nick Cousins slash on Ivan Demidov: pic.twitter.com/DZ0kbvcbaL
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 1, 2025

Back in October, the NHL fined Cousins $2,148.44, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement. Cousins was only assessed a minor penalty for slashing during that preseason matchup.

Struble made it clear on Saturday that Montreal won’t forget when a player crosses the line, saying, “We’ll protect our guys. That’s how it should be.”

Ivan Demidov skates for the Montreal Canadiens.David Kirouac-Imagn Images

For the Canadiens, the moment carried meaning beyond retaliation. Demidov, the target of Cousins' slash in September, tied the game late in regulation before Alex Newhook sealed the win in overtime.

The Canadiens and the Senators will meet three more times this season, the next matchup scheduled for Dec. 2 once again in Montreal.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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