Yaroslav Askarov

Oliver Kapanen fires a wrist shot past Yaroslav Askarov to put the Habs on the board against San Jose. With Juraj Slafkovsky and Mike Matheson setting him up perfectly, this early strike highlights Montreal's top-six chemistry that's been clicking lately. Askarov, who's seen his share of rubber in net this season, faces a Canadiens squad rolling into SAP Center with points in seven straight.

The books have Montreal's Ivan Demidov as the heavy favorite for the 2026 Calder at plus money that screams dominance, but challengers like San Jose's Michael Misa and Minnesota's Zeev Buium lurk with longer shots. Late-season surges from dark horses such as Yaroslav Askarov could flip the script if they grab starts on needy teams. Front offices track these odds closely as rookies prove their NHL worth before the playoffs heat up.

Alex Nedeljkovic sat down with the NHL to reflect on his first year in San Jose, a pivotal moment for a franchise that's cycled through eight different goalies since 2023. The 30-year-old netminder has emerged as a legitimate complement to young phenom Yaroslav Askarov, creating a tandem that coach Ryan Warsofsky believes can stabilize the crease for years to come.