- Florian Xhekaj fought Marshall Rifai in Toronto while Arber played in Montreal
- Arber watched it on the timekeeper’s phone from the Bell Centre penalty box
- Read below for the video and how both Canadiens squads handled the Leafs
Arber Xhekaj was not going to miss his brother’s fight, even from another city.
Both clubs opened the NHL preseason on Saturday with split-squad games running at the same time, one at the Bell Centre and one at Scotiabank Arena. Arber dressed for the Montreal group. Florian dressed for the one in Toronto.
Florian dropped the gloves with Maple Leafs defenseman Marshall Rifai midway through the second period. Arber was sitting in the Bell Centre penalty box at almost the same moment, and the off-ice official working the box pulled the fight up on his phone and held it out over the ledge.
Arber leaned down in full gear and watched the whole thing through the glass:
The younger Xhekaj got the better of it. Check out how it went in Toronto:
Montreal drafted the 6-foot-4 forward 101st overall in 2023, and he spent last season with AHL Laval. Dropping the gloves in the first preseason game is one way to get a coaching staff’s attention.
His older brother signed a one-year deal with Montreal earlier this month, so both Xhekajs are chasing roster spots at the same time.
The Canadiens swept the night. Cole Caufield scored with 38 seconds left in overtime for a 4-3 win at the Bell Centre, and the group in Toronto beat the Leafs 4-1 behind two Danault goals and a shutout run from Sam Montembeault. Gavin McKenna made his Maple Leafs debut in that second game.
Here’s Caufield ending it in Montreal:
Montreal is back at it Monday against the Senators in Trois-Rivieres.
