Last night, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj reportedly stepped in to diffuse rising tensions between the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs before they escalated. TVA reporter Rafael Lavoie, who was positioned between the benches, overheard interactions between the teams. It seems Max Domi was eager to fight Mark Savard, but Xhekaj offered to take Savard’s place instead. This intervention led to Domi becoming quiet for the remainder of the game, resulting in a notable reduction in hostility from both teams thereafter. Xhekaj’s presence seems to make him an effective enforcer, as even the mere possibility of a fight with him has a calming effect on opponents.
Additionally, Xhekaj was involved in another incident during the game where he seemed ready to confront Ryan Reaves, but Reaves declined to engage. Consequently, it appears that Reaves has been sidelined, as Craig Berube has made him a healthy scratch for tonight’s matchup against the New Jersey Devils. This decision follows a disappointing loss to the younger Canadiens team, largely attributed to the outstanding performance of goaltender Sam Montembeault, who achieved a 48-save shutout, securing a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Cole Caufield.
Compounding the Maple Leafs’ challenges, Joseph Woll is currently on injured reserve, prompting the team to call up rookie Dennis Hildeby for his NHL debut tonight. While there is optimism about Hildeby within the organization, the initial plan was to limit his playing time this season, especially with Matt Murray also on the roster; however, Murray has not played in an NHL game for a long period. Toronto’s goaltending situation will be closely observed as the season unfolds, with hopes for better health compared to last year.
