Canadiens’ Arber Xhekaj Is Happy To Finally Be Getting Some Looks

When the Montreal Canadiens take the ice tonight against the Buffalo Sabres, they’ll look slightly different. Oliver Kapanen is finally ready to join the lineup after being day-to-day since the start of the season, and David Reinbacher will also get his feet wet. Don’t expect Martin St-Louis to mess with the budding chemistry he’s found on his top three lines so far this season, though. The Finnish center will take his first strides on the fourth line's wing alongside Jake Evans and Kirby Dach, meaning Owen Beck will make way.

As for Reinbacher, he will be with Arber Xhekaj on the third pairing; the gritty defenseman described the Austrian blueliner as a kind of little brother:

Like I said yesterday, he’s a good kid, he’s funny, keeps it light, I think we have a lot of fun together. He’s like a younger brother that you bully and toss around a little bit; keep it light. That's kind of how I approach him.

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As for Xhekaj himself, he’s enjoying the new opportunity he got this season:

His play this year hasn’t gone unnoticed by St-Louis:

I think he’s playing good hockey; in the last two or three games, he's had the opportunity to be physical, but he hasn't chased it. His details are excellent; he'll get opportunities to bring physicality. I don’t know exactly when, but I find him patient in that respect; he’s not chasing it, he’s there when it’s time. His stick is in the right place; his reads are good.

Reinbacher will be Xhekaj’s third partner this season after Jayden Struble and Adam Engstrom, and the Hamilton native sees it as an opportunity to show leadership:

I just play and try to help them out as best as I can. I think I just try to stay calm, and whenever there’s a mistake, I just say, “Shake it off; we’ve got next shift, " and just try to be a little bit of a leader to them.

As for Reinbacher himself, he wants to keep things simple:

I just want to play my game, like I did the last couple of weeks, so I feel pretty comfortable. I just kept going like I did in camp and just played the same way; don’t change anything, be myself out there, and that’s it.

Wise words from the 21-year-old who was picked fifth overall by the Habs in 2023 as St-Louis recalled:

Reino had a good camp; he’s here, we have an opportunity [with Mike Matheson’s injury] […] I think he’s become stronger; he was drafted high; he has the skills; he has the computer and everything; it’s just about putting it all together. I think it helps the player get stronger and heavier; I think he’s progressed well, and it’s important to get reps at this level. I’m looking forward to seeing him out there.

In net, the coach went back to Jacob Fowler after Jakub Dobes’ last game was underwhelming, to say the least. During the morning skate, Marco Marcianno worked with Fowler on close-range shots and dealing with obstructed views. With Dobes, he worked on shots on the move in the crease, presumably to help him correct the tendency to overcommit and get out of position. St-Louis spent some time at the goalie's end of the ice, watching them work with Marciano.

Juraj Slafkovsky returned to the ice after missing Friday's practice and will be in the lineup Saturday night. Tonight’s game is already a must-win for the Habs against a divisional rival; grabbing the two points seems vital, even if the season is still young.

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