NHL: Washington Capitals at Montreal Canadiens - Source: Imagn — Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj spoke about his mentality this season (Source: Imagn)

Arber Xhekaj makes "honest" admission about fighting after multiple healthy scratches

Modified Dec 12, 2024 12:45 GMT

Arber Xhekaj, a defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens, opened up about his recent approach to the game during an interview with TSN 690 on Wednesday. Xhekaj, known for his physical play, emphasized his focus on growth in his second NHL season.

"I've honestly just taken a step back & blended a little bit," Xhekaj said. " I just kinda work on my game slowly. You don't need to stand out, you don't need to do anything crazy. You keep it simple & just defend. I'm trying to build that floor of defending. Who knows how high my ceiling can get in this league?”

Arber Xhekaj has been scratched three times this season. He was scratched against New York Islanders on Oct. 19, and against New York Rangers on Oct. 22. He was scratched again during a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Oct. 31. Despite these setbacks, he continues to work on his defensive game and contribute to the team’s physicality.

“Right now I'm just blending in & just playing my game, playing solid for the team & obviously just being a good defender out there," Xhekaj said.

Expand Tweet

In 25 games, Arber Xhekaj has recorded 43 penalty minutes and four assists. Over his career, he has recorded 27 points and 225 penalty minutes in 120 games, making him a reliable presence on the Canadiens’ blue line. However, Xhekaj has stood out for his teammates in important games, like taking on Mark Kastelic of the Boston Bruins. He received 12 penalty minutes and a misconduct in that game.

The Montreal Canadiens have had a tough start to the 2024-25 season with an 11-14-3 record and are currently No. 8 in the Atlantic Division standings. Patrik Laine and Nick Suzuki are leading the team's offense, and Sam Montembeault’s shutout against Nashville and Edmonton is a positive sign.

Arber Xhekaj and the Canadians secured a 3-2 win against the Ducks

The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in a shootout at Bell Centre on Monday. Arber Xhekaj recorded three shots on the goal and two penalty minutes in 18:54 minutes of ice time. Patrik Laine scored first at 2:36 of the first period. Troy Terry tied it 1-1 scoring on a rebound after Cam Fowler’s shot.

Terry added another goal at 4:25 of the second period during a power play. Kirby Dach scored following a misplay by Lukas Dostal. Laine scored in the shootout, and Sam Montembeault made 27 saves, helping the Canadiens secure their win.