Hints surface on NHL’s suspension for Arber Xhekaj and fans are outraged!

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj may just be very lucky. After receiving a major penalty and a game misconduct penalty for taking an open ice headshot run at Ottawa Senators forward Tim Stutzle on Tuesday night, many have been expecting the NHL to come down hard on the blue liner with a lengthy suspension.

Xhekaj hit Stutzle coming across the blue line with a late and received a major and a game misconduct. 

However, according to Frank Seravalli, he is not expecting any supplemental discipline for Xhekaj.

Montreal reporter from TVA Sports Renaud Lavoie also reports that no hearing will be handed to Xhekaj for his hit on Stutzle. 

When Seravalli posted the expected verdict from the league, fans were shocked and outraged at the call. Many expected Xhekaj to get a few games away from the game, especially seeing he was recently fined the maximum amount, $3,385.42, for unsportsmanlike conduct against Toronto Maple Leafs’ Cedric Pare. The fine followed Xhekaj’s actions in the first period of Toronto’s 2-1 preseason victory over host Montreal on Saturday, after Xhekaj was assessed a minor penalty and a 10-minute misconduct for instigating, a major penalty for fighting and a game misconduct.

After last night’s 4-3 loss to the Senators, Habs head coach Martin St. Louis was asked about Xhekaj’s actions. He did not expect his player to be suspend for what he believes was a hockey play.

“The penalty to (Arber) Xhekaj (tonight) isn’t the same as the one he had last game. It’s a hockey play. But we have to be more disciplined as a team and more calculated…”

“I felt for the most part…I felt tonight: I didn’t mind it. What (Arber Xhekaj) did tonight…he was just playing the game. I don’t think he was trying to hurt Stutzle because they hit (Kirby) Dach. I don’t think so. I thought he was trying to play the game there. It happens fast…if you watch it live, to me it’s a hockey play. He (Xhekaj) is a big guy. If a smaller defenseman does the same thing, it’s nothing…I do want us to have team toughness but we have to be more calculated. We’ll get better at it.”

We will probably the league's official decision later today, but coming from Seravalli, I would not expect any suspension for the Habs' defender.