Coming off a very disappointing effort despite their win over the Arizona Coyotes, the Montreal Canadiens needed to show some improved play to start their road trip. Beating the Florida Panthers in their barn was a bigger challenge than they were up for, but they delivered a better game, and even managed to drag the Atlantic-leading Florida side all the way to a shootout before surrendering the two standings points.
Far more important for the Habs than the extra point in the standings was the performance of their young players, notably Arber Xhekaj on the blue line.
This pass was, in a word, sublime. It required the vision to spot Suzuki making himself open from distance, the skill to fit the pass between two Panthers players, and the touch to put it perfectly on the tape and in-stride as Suzuki crossed the offensive blue line. The ability to make plays like this is what has a lot of fans excited about Xhekaj, and what his ceiling could be when he’s fully developed.
He was also involved defensively, immediately confronting Evan Rodrigues after he tripped Samuel Montembeault, but managing to do so without taking a penalty. He led the team in blocked shots with four, not the gaudiest of stats, but important in a game where his team was being out-attempted. And while one of his biggest weaknesses in his career so far has been limiting high-danger chances against, the Habs only allowed three, and had seven of their own while he was on the ice. His impact was felt well beyond that perfect pass to set up the team’s first goal.
This was one of his best games in a Canadiens uniform. He flashed his offensive upside, and managed to do so in a reserved way that kept him useful in his own zone. This is also just the latest in a string of very effective performances from him, which should either serve to increase his potential trade value, or perhaps suggest that he belongs in Montreal beyond the completion of the rebuild.
Whatever he wants to happen, it should come to fruition if he keeps playing the way he did against the Panthers.
Click the play button below to listen to your full Bottom Six Minutes, also available wherever you get your podcasts. We’ll be back following Saturday night’s continuation of the road trip against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
