Arber Xhekaj took a penalty at the Bell Centre on Saturday, and the Canadiens defenceman spent the trip watching his brother fight in another city.
It wasn't even his phone. There was time between whistles, and somebody nearby pulled one out and showed him the clip.
I just watched it, he said after the game. It was sick, and he texted his brother immediately.
I was really excited, he added. A great fight, in his own words.
Florian had dropped the gloves with Marshall Rifai up the highway in Toronto. Rifai walked away with 5 penalty minutes.
The younger brother finished that night with 7 penalty minutes and an assist, and the assist arrived while Montreal was killing a penalty.
Arber played 21:31 at the Bell Centre, put 2 shots on net and took the minor that sent him to the box in the first place.
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Arber Xhekaj breaks silence on viral phone moment during brother's fight
Here's the part sitting underneath all the fun. Neither of them has a job guaranteed to him.
Florian showed up to camp at 215 pounds this year, 20 more than last season, and he has been impossible to miss since.
He's been skating with Phillip Danault and Josh Anderson through camp sessions all week long.
Arber just signed a one-year deal with the organization. Nobody hands out that kind of paper to a man with tenure.
Kaiden Guhle is expected out until at least October 23 with a groin issue, which opens a sliver of room on the back end.
Montreal took both halves of Saturday. A 4-1 result in Toronto and a 4-3 overtime win at home.
Lane Hutson scored and added 2 assists in the Bell Centre game. He logged 24:50 doing it.
Ottawa visits Monday night, and the roster decisions get closer with every one of these.
The Hockey News summed the whole night up in one line. Hockey is back, more alive than ever.
So why does a penalty box moment travel like that? Watching your brother on somebody else's phone works like getting a wedding photo texted from across an ocean. You're not there, and you're completely there.
Two brothers, one organization, no promises. That's a far better storyline than anything either of them did on the scoresheet.
Should both Xhekaj brothers make the Canadiens opening night roster?
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