Arber Xhekaj is making a name for himself in the nation's capital — for better or worse.
Despite the fact that many involved in Tuesday's grudge match were left out of the lineup, Saturday's pre-season rematch between the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens still got off to a chippy start.
Just 90 seconds into the final pre-season match for each team, Canadiens defenceman Xhekaj laid a cross-check on Senators forward Adam Gaudette. His Senators teammate, Zack MacEwen, wasn't about to give a pass to Xhekaj and the two quickly dropped the gloves.
Each received a five-minute major for fighting — far less than what was doled out last meeting between the teams, when Xhekaj received a major penalty and a game misconduct for a high hit on Tim Stutzle, seemingly in retaliation for a similarly high hit from Ottawa's Ridly Greig on Kirby Dach.
Despite the early scuffle on Saturday, however, the first period continued without incident, but that was by design. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis told reporters that, "we won't take a chance. The first line won't play tonight." Additionally, Senators head coach Travis Green kept Greig, Stutzle and Tkachuk out of the lineup.
Xhekaj was the only player involved in Tuesday's ruckuses that was available in Saturday's contest
The two teams will meet again, when games actually matter and with the full NHL rosters, Oct. 12 on Hockey Night in Canada.
