Montreal Canadiens enforcer Arber Xhekaj delivered more than just physicality on Saturday — he ignited a much-needed spark for his team.
Midway through the second period, with Montreal trailing 2-0, Xhekaj dropped the gloves with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Keaton Middleton following a scuffle involving Josh Anderson. When Anderson chose not to engage, Xhekaj stepped in and took charge. The ensuing fight was one-sided, with Xhekaj landing a series of clean punches before dropping Middleton to the ice.
The officials had no choice but to intervene as Xhekaj nearly forced Middleton into submission.
“He stepped up against a heavyweight and did a great job,” said Avalanche forward Jack Drury of Middleton. “It’s energizing.”
However, it was Montreal that fed off the momentum.
Although the Canadiens fell behind 3-0 shortly after the fight, they began to claw their way back. Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice, followed by goals from Joshua Roy and Christian Dvorak, allowing Montreal to force overtime.
Colorado ultimately secured a 5-4 win in the shootout, with Brock Nelson scoring the decisive goal.
A night that belonged to Xhekaj
Despite the loss, the night was defined by Xhekaj’s dominant performance. His TKO-style beatdown of Middleton not only fired up his teammates but also showcased why the 23-year-old defenseman remains one of the most impactful players in his role.
Montreal’s resilient effort earned them a valuable “loser point,” which helped solidify their position in the Eastern Conference wild-card race.
The Canadiens now sit one point ahead of the New York Rangers (75 to 74 points) for the final playoff spot and hold two games in hand over their rivals.
Next up, Montreal will face the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. Interestingly, the Blues find themselves in a similar position in the Western Conference standings, making it a pivotal matchup for both teams.
