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Martin St-Louis and Ivan Demidov create Patrik Laine’s goal in practice

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated Sep 27, 2025 11:20 AM ET

There wasn’t much positive to take away from Thursday’s warm-up game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, as the Canadiens lost 7-2. It was a painful game to watch, and we saw Noah Dobson and David Reinbacher(injured for four weeks) leave the game.

But at least there was something to cheer about when Ivan Demidov made a superb play before feeding a perfect pass to Patrik Laine on the powerplay. It was a beautiful goal, which showed us the full extent of Demidov’s talent.

The young Russian talent has incredible vision, and this kind of pass is proof of that. What’s even more interesting about this goal is that when we look again at the footage from this week’s practices, we see that it was a play that was prepared by Martin St-Louis.

Watch this sequence again after the pass Demidov served to Laine yesterday.

MSL and Demidov literally created Laine’s goal in practice! https://t.co/bVsAeS9EwZ– Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) September 27, 2025

Indeed, as Anthony Martineau mentions, when you review this particular sequence of Demidov and St-Louis chatting in practice, you realize that the two men created Laine’s goal.

It’s a play that had been prepared by the coach, and which Demidov decided to apply against the Leafs, as the perfect situation unfolded before him.

The Habs head coach has some good advice and ideas, especially considering that this isn’t the first time such a situation has arisen: a few years ago, Cole Caufield also reproduced one of the coach’s ideas in a match.

In practice, St-Louis demonstrated a deke shot followed by a wrist shot, a sequence that Caufield reproduced almost a month later in a game against the Ottawa Senators. The result? Caufield scored with the same gesture.

Coache’s Video: Transition Practice vs Game? Hey @MA_PerreaultTVA, credit goes to you for the video. Martin St-Louis working with Caufield in practice (March 9) on the one-timer and on April 5, Cole Caufield doing the same move. #GoHabsGo#HockeyTwitter pic.twitter.com/ZMikW69QIR

– Mitch Giguere (@Mitch_Giguere) April 6, 2022

In short, Martin St-Louis seems to have a knack for giving his players good ideas and advice, and let’s just say that when it works in a game, the players trust their coach even more.

’En

– An absolutely incredible start to the season for the Habs prospect. He has five points, including three goals, in two games.

Bryce Pickford with another goal for Medicine Hat. https://t.co/t7zsmbelJO –

Marco D’Amico (@mndamico) September 27, 2025

– A good read.

Well reasoned thoughtful article. Good read. Probably most fulsome analysis of Canadiens prospects of success this season. https://t.co/2buKlaL7A2 –

Eric Macramalla (@EricMacramalla) September 27, 2025

– The latest NHL rumours – To be continued.

Comité international paralympique | La suspension de la Russie et de la Biélorussie allégée https://t.co/dpuKfb0kuR –

La Presse Sports (@LaPresse_Sports) September 27, 2025

This article first appeared on Dose.ca and was syndicated with permission.

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