Photo credit: Screenshot
There was plenty of action last night in the game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Florida Panthers, involving Arber Xhekaj and A.J. Greer.
An early-game sequence in particular quickly raised the intensity.
Young defenseman Adam Engstrom received a penalty after hooking forward A.J. Greer as he was driving toward Jakub Dobes’ net.
On the play, Arber Xhekaj was seen aggressively going after the Panthers forward. It seemed unusual at first, but there is now a clear explanation.
While it’s undeniable that Greer was indeed hooked by Engstrom on the play, the footage clearly shows that he intentionally finished his fall as violently as possible—directly into goaltender Jakub Dobes.
Arber Xhekaj enforces protection around Jakub Dobes after repeated contact from A.J. Greer
What deeply irritated number 72 for the Canadiens was that the opposing forward made absolutely no effort to avoid contact with the young netminder.
On the contrary, he appeared to use the situation to his advantage to deliberately collide with the goalie.
That was more than enough to trigger the “Sheriff’s” protective instincts.
Xhekaj didn’t hesitate for a single second to enforce order in his territory and send a clear message to his opponent.
Moreover, this troubling habit from the Panthers forward wasn’t limited to just that one sequence.
It happened two or three times during the game, where Xhekaj had to step in physically to firmly push Greer away, as he lingered far too close to Dobes.
By acting like a true sheriff, Xhekaj once again proved that he takes his role as a protector extremely seriously.
Anyone who dares to make contact with the Canadiens’ goaltender will inevitably have to answer to him.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
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The real reason Arber Xhekaj lost his patience with A.J. Greer has finally been revealed
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