By unanimous decision, we dedicate this version of the Hidden Game to Arber Xhekaj.
Readers of this space realize we’re not huge fans of exhibition games — in any sport. But credit the Canadiens’ bellicose defenceman for putting a spark into what otherwise was a tedious, albeit expensive, exercise against the Ottawa Senators.
Midway through the second period Tuesday night at the Bell Centre, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Xhekaj discombobulated Tim Stutzle with a thunderous hit. It knocked the Senators centre’s helmet off as he fell to the ice from the knockout blow. When Stutzle finally emerged from La-La land, there was a small cut on the bridge of his nose — perhaps from his own stick!
Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk, as expected, came to Stutzle’s defence and received a roughing minor.
Xhekaj, meanwhile, received a roughing minor, a major for interference and a game misconduct. For those of you keeping score at home, that’s 44 penalty minutes — along with a pair of match penalties — for Xhekaj in the last two games.
He also was fined US$3,385.42 — the maximum under the Collective Bargaining Agreement — for unsportsmanlike conduct against Toronto’s Cédric Paré. It was Paré’s knee-on-knee hit Saturday that has sidelined Patrik Laine for between two and three months with a sprain to his left knee. Surgery isn’t required.
Upon further review: Perhaps Xhekaj’s act of irrationalism wasn’t that smart after all? The Senators scored three goals on the five-minute power play, recovering from a 2-0 deficit for a 4-3 victory.
Quickest penalty to start a game: The early lead goes to Canadiens’ defenceman David Savard, who high-sticked Noah Gregor after only 23 seconds.
Ouch: Christian Dvorak blocked a Thomas Chabot blast on the ensuing power play and limped to the Canadiens’ bench.
Next time, shoot:Alex Barré-Boulet, with 12 goals in 68 career NHL games, squandered a glorious opportunity early in the match. He had a two-on-one break with Brendan Gallagher. Instead of shooting — and the shot was there — he attempted to feed Gallagher. The pass was blocked.
More coffee, please: Through the 12th minute, these two teams had four shots combined. The regular season can’t start soon enough.
Giveaway of the night: Ottawa’s Carter Yakemchuk tried dumping the puck off the side boards out of his own zone. It was intercepted by Jake Evans, who opened the scoring at 13:05 of the first period.
Solo effort: In the game’s 16th minute, Emil Heineman displayed some speed, skating down the left wing before going to the net. While he didn’t score, he forced Jake Sanderson into taking a hooking penalty.
The most hated man in Montreal: That would be the Senators’ Ridly Greig. He delivered a blow to Kirby Dach‘s head in the game’s 16th minute, sending the Canadiens’ forward to the dressing room, although he returned for the start of the second period. Greig was penalized for interference and became a marked man. He took a hit from Jayden Struble before Michael Pezzetta took a roughing minor later in the period.
Fight of the night: After taking an interference penalty in the offensive zone against Greig in the third period, Dach exacted his revenge, pummelling the Ottawa player with repeated right hands.
Next time, decline the penalty: Not only did the Canadiens fail to register a shot during a first-period two-man advantage that lasted 1:35, they went 0-for-5 on the power play. Montreal is now 0-for-25 with the man advantage through five exhibition games. Isn’t this what got Alex Burrows fired as an assistant coach?
Pass of the night (Part I): While the Canadiens enjoyed a power play, goalie Cayden Primeau’s long feed found Gallagher. Regrettably, the play was offside.
Pass of the night (Part II): Shane Pinto to Greig on the Senators’ third goal.
If only: As the second period came to a conclusion, Luke Tuch deflected Struble’s shot past Linus Ullmark. Time had barely expired and a replay clearly indicated the call was correct.
It could have been worse: The Senators scored a fifth goal in the third period. However, the Canadiens challenged and, following a video review, the play was deemed offside.
Save of the night: With 1:20 remaining in regulation time, Ullmark made a spectacular glove save on Evans, positioned on the lip of the crease.
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out: Tuch and Lucas Condotta, both of whom were recalled from Laval for the game, were sent back to the AHL Rocket following the match.
Quick stats: The Canadiens enjoyed a 32-16 shots advantage. … Dach led all Montreal players with six shots on goal. Evans and Barré-Boulet each had four shots. … Defenceman Logan Mailloux was a plus-3. … With only 12 stops, Primeau’s save percentage was an ugly .750.
They said it: “When one of your better players gets sent down the tunnel, it doesn’t really matter what happened, I think he (Greig) probably should have answered the bell with one of our guys that wanted to go,” Struble said. “It could have been over with. Stuff happens and it got handled in its own way.”
“That penalty isn’t the same as what he did the last game,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said about Xhekaj. “It’s a hockey play.”
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Oliver Kapanen, who scored the Canadiens’ third goal. “I just live day by day and wait for the call that’s going to happen. I just enjoy my time here. Of course goals might help.”