Tyrell Bauer drops the gloves with a Xhekaj tonight

B/R Open Ice just posted that Tyrell Bauer of the Jets and a Xhekaj of the Canadiens went at it in a long scrap tonight.

This one had been building. Earlier today, Bauer told TVA Sports' Anthony Martineau he expected to play in Montreal, and Bauer's message to the Xhekaj brothers was already prepared.

The post names only Xhekaj, not which brother. Arber is the defenseman and Florian the winger, and both were in the conversation before puck drop.

B/R Open Ice described it as two heavyweights going at it in a long scrap.

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The timing fits the week. On Monday, Arber and Florian were reportedly fighting each other at Canadiens practice, according to /r/Habs on X, so the Xhekaj family had already been throwing punches before Winnipeg showed up.

Bauer is no stranger to this. He has 23 penalty minutes through nine games this season, with no goals and no assists.

What the fight means for the Jets and Canadiens

Bauer's job is easy to read from that line. He is a 6'3 defenseman who gets in the lineup to answer the bell, and tonight he got a willing dance partner.

The Jets have been looking for a spark. Bauer's fight with Bokondji Imama in Florida came last Friday with Winnipeg winless in seven, so this is not a one-off.

On the Montreal side, Arber Xhekaj has 18 penalty minutes in 13 games this season. Over his NHL career he has 434 in 243 games, which makes him one of the league's most recognizable fighters on a roster that rarely hides from it.

Florian is a different case. He has 11 career games and 2 points this season, so a fight from him would be a statement about where he fits as much as about toughness.

My view: a long fight between two enforcers is good theater, but a player with no points through nine games and a -2 rating is not going to change a hockey game from the bench. If the Jets keep using Bauer this way, they'd better get results in the standings, not just in the penalty box.

Which Xhekaj it was, and who got the better of it, is still to come out. Expect Bauer and both brothers to be asked about it after the game.

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