MONTREAL - Rookie sensation Ivan Demidov has met his lofty expectations with a hot start to the season for the Montreal Canadiens.

His fellow first-year linemate, meanwhile, might be surpassing them.

Oliver Kapanen leads all NHL rookies with six goals through 15 games after scoring once and adding an assist in Saturday’s 6-2 win over the Utah Mammoth, helping Montreal improve to 10-3-2.

The production — Kapanen also has four assists — might surprise some, but not his coach or teammates.

"He's a great player. I'm not really surprised,” said linemate Alex Newhook. “We all knew what he's capable of doing here, and he's been proving it early on.

“Gets to the right area, scores in those spots where he's getting to, and it's been great.”

Head coach Martin St. Louis highlighted Kapanen’s in

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