Watch: Massive brawl breaks out at Toronto Maple Leafs - Montreal Canadiens prospect game

By Abhishek Dilta

Modified Sep 22, 2024 17:54 GMT

The prospect matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday (Sept. 15) saw a massive brawl erupt on the ice.

The incident unfolded when Leafs prospect Noah Chadwick was targeted with a high hit from the Canadiens' Luke Tuch. Chadwick was cross-checked from behind shortly after, causing him to collide face-first with the crossbar.

Despite the severity of the hit, Chadwick emerged unscathed, but the situation quickly escalated. The aggressive play ignited a full-scale brawl, with players from both teams engaging in a skirmish near the goal line.

Watch the video here:

During the heating exchange between Rhett Parsons and Tuch, Canadiens prospect Florian Xhekaj entered the fray, which eventuallu proved costly for the team.

The Toronto Maple Leafs capitalized on the situation, earning a powerplay.

Easton Cowan seized the moment, scoring to give the Leafs a 5-4 lead.

The Leafs maintained their lead in the final minutes, securing victory and completing a sweep over the Canadiens in two games of the 2024 Prospect Showdown.

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Habs' Florian Xhekaj drops gloves against Toronto Maple Leafs in prospect matchup

The 2024 Prospect Showdown between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs kicked off with a fierce display of physicality, as Canadiens forward Florian Xhekaj made an immediate impact in his first preseason game.

Xhekaj engaged in a spirited bout but Leafs' Chas Sharpe, setting the tone for the matchup. The confrontation occurred early in the game at the Bell Centre on Saturday, where both teams showcased their promising young talent.

Xhekaj and Sharpe exchanged a flurry of punches before both players ended up on the ice, prompting officials to intervene and break up the altercation. The Toronto Maple Leafs emerged winners after securing the win in a shootout.

Both teams wrapped up their rookie prospect camps and will be gearing up for the preseason later this month. The Habs and the Leafs are scheduled to complete two preseason games before facing off in the NHL season opener on Oct. 9.