Florian Xhekaj’s Big Debut Spoiled By Hurricanes

The Xhekaj brothers finally saw their dream come true last night as they both suited up for the Montreal Canadiens in a regular-season game. The dream soon turned to a nightmare, however, as the Habs were beaten 6-4 by the Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes. The younger Xhekaj’s baptism of fire wasn’t easy, but he still stood out for the right reasons at times.

Less than two minutes in, the rookie landed a bone-crushing hit on Nicholas Ehlers, who didn’t appreciate it much, holding on to the winger’s stick for ages and then complaining to the referee while the play was still going on. The 22-year-old finished the game with three hits and didn’t look out of place on the attacking side of the puck, especially not on the forecheck.

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He played with pace, and when opponents saw him coming at full speed, they rushed their play. It led to two turnovers, and once he pressured the defenseman behind Brandon Bussi’s net; the puck landed on a Canadiens defenseman's stick at the blueline. By the time he shot, Xhekaj had moved to the front of the net to screen the goaltender and attempt to tip the puck. There’s no doubt that the rookie knows what he is and how he should play. Martin St-Louis does like players who play to their identity.

However, Xhekaj’s audition wasn’t as conclusive on the other side of the puck; the winger ended his night with a minus-three record. He was on the ice for the Canes’ second goal, but it came on a lost faceoff by Jake Evans, and at that stage, Xhekaj was tasked with covering the defenseman who didn’t have the puck. The shot came from the other side of the zone and was deflected in front, far away from the youngster.

On the Canes’ fourth goal, Noah Dobson sent the winger a no-look backhand pass he didn’t expect in the defensive zone. It was poked on its way to him, and Xhekaj couldn't control it; it fell straight to Mark Jankowski in the slot, and the centerman wasn’t going to miss such a premium opportunity. Yes, Xhekaj’s man scored, but that one was on the veteran defenseman, who chose to put the puck in a dangerous spot rather than battle hard along the boards.

On the Canes’ fifth goal, however, he should have done a better job of tying up Taylor Hall in front of the net. With Xhekaj and Taylor Hall screening Jakub Dobes, he couldn’t see the puck, and when the players blocked it, he had no idea where it was when Hall knocked it in, right under the youngster’s eyes.

Did the rookie have a tough night in his zone? Yes, he did, but that was on a night when established NHL players struggled to find space against an opponent who plays a suffocating style. Those were hardly winning conditions, and Xhekaj’s readiness to play in the NHL shouldn’t be assessed on that game alone.

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