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"I didn't mind it": Canadiens HC Marty St. Louis justifies Arber Xhekaj's controversial hit on Tim Stutzle
In a Tuesday preseason game between the Canadiens and the Senators, Arber Xhekaj hit Tim Stutzle, which led to Xhekaj’s ejection and reactions from both teams.
Senators captain Brady Tkachuk confronted Xhekaj in a brief scuffle. Stutzle, looking unsteady, needed help from trainers and didn't return. Ottawa later confirmed that both Stutzle and Tkachuk had upper body injuries.
After the game, Canadiens coach Marty St. Louis defended Xhekaj, saying that the hit was just a part of the game.
“I felt for the most part … I felt tonight: I didn’t mind it. What (Arber Xhekaj) did tonight … he was just playing the game," Louis said.
He stressed that he didn’t believe Xhekaj meant to injure Stutzle in response to a hit on Kirby Dach. St. Louis noted that Xhekaj's size affected how the hit appeared, saying:
"If a smaller defenseman does the same thing, it’s nothing," Louis continued.
While defending Xhekaj, St. Louis also stressed the need for the team to be more disciplined and calculated.
The incident happened not long after Xhekaj was fined for an altercation in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In that game, Xhekaj went after Cedric Pare for hitting Patrik Laine and punched Pare when he refused to fight.
Many thought Xhekaj would be suspended, but he only received a fine. Now, with this latest hit, Xhekaj's physical style is getting more attention. It’s unclear if the NHL will suspend him.
Ottawa Senators defeated Montreal Canadiens with four power-play goals in preseason win
The Ottawa Senators earned a 4-3 preseason win over the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Tuesday. They took full advantage of Montreal’s penalties, scoring four power-play goals.
Michael Amadio, Adam Gaudette, Ridly Greig and Carter Yakemchuk provided the offense for Ottawa, while Jake Evans, Oliver Kapanen and Kirby Dach replied for Montreal.
Special teams played a major role, with Ottawa successfully killing five Canadiens power plays. Both teams accumulated several penalties, leading to a physical and intense game. In the third period, tensions escalated with a fight between Kirby Dach and Ridly Greig, resulting in their ejections.
Goaltender Linus Ullmark made 29 saves for Ottawa. While not perfect, his performance was solid, keeping the Senators in the game after they fell behind 2-0 early in the second period. The Senators bounced back with three power-play goals in the second, taking control of the game.
The power play was key for Ottawa, allowing them to overcome their slow start and build momentum. They will look to continue this success into their next game against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday.
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