Unexpected Scene in Boston: Arber Xhekaj Facing Possible Suspension For Punching the Ref
There was an unexpected, and certainly accidental incident involving young Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj.
The Sheriff, who has been playing solid hockey recently and doing a great job of staying out of trouble, may receive a call from the NHL Department of Player Safety as early as tomorrow morning.
By sheer accident, Xhekaj struck an official with his fist during a scrum. As you know, the league has a zero-tolerance policy for such actions. George Parros' Department of Player Safety almost always enforces discipline systematically, regardless of intent.
A Suspension Coming for Arber Xhekaj?
Additionally, the referee immediately grabbed his head to indicate he was hurt, which won't help Xhekaj's case.
You can watch the full video here.
In short, this is a developing story to keep an eye on over the coming hours, especially if Xhekaj receives a call from the league's disciplinary committee.
It was entirely accidental, but as mentioned earlier, that doesn't mean there won't be consequences.
That said, it's worth noting that Xhekaj has been focusing on his play between the whistles lately, which is a great sign, as long as it doesn't detract too much from his natural style.
The 6 foot 4, 240-pound, 23-year-old defenseman has recorded three points in 21 games this season, with a -6 differential and 37 penalty minutes. He also stood out during Montreal's first goal in Boston.
Overall, what were your impressions of this showdown between the Habs and the Bruins?
Stay tuned for more updates as details unfold.
