The hockey community is abuzz following a contentious decision during Sunday night’s game between the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers. In the first period, Montreal’s Arber Xhekaj confronted Sean Couturier of the Flyers after Couturier delivered a high hit on Canadiens forward Kirby Dach. As Xhekaj and Couturier were about to fight, Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler unexpectedly intervened and punched Xhekaj, turning the intended one-on-one fight into a two-on-one.
What made the situation particularly puzzling was that the officials penalized Xhekaj for unsportsmanlike conduct, while Seeler was not penalized at all.
As Xhekaj tried to confront Couturier after the hit on Dach, Seeler’s interference halted the fight, resulting in the Flyers earning a power play. This move sparked significant backlash and led to speculation that the officials were trying to send a message to Xhekaj. Many fans felt Seeler should have received an offsetting penalty, if not a power play for the Canadiens.
The controversial call drew strong reactions on social media, including a tweet from NHL broadcaster PJ Stock, who criticized the decision, stating that the NHL was wrong and calling it a “terrible call.” Stock emphasized the need for the league to intervene and correct it, suggesting that if such a situation occurred later in the season, the response would be different.
Montreal Gazette columnist Stu Cowan also condemned the ruling, pointing out that Xhekaj was penalized despite being the second player to engage in a fight after Couturier, and being blindsided by a third player.
Did the Officials Make the Right Call on Xhekaj?
Fans in Montreal were frustrated because Xhekaj waited for Couturier to be ready before engaging, yet was penalized for being attacked from behind. The decision was unusual, raising questions as to whether anyone had ever witnessed such a sequence of events. The situation could have easily resulted in a 5-on-3 advantage for Montreal.
If the NHL officials continue to make calls like this, it could lead to a challenging season ahead.
