Arber Xhekaj Signals During Middleton Fight

Arber Xhekaj showed why they call him “The Sheriff” Saturday night at the Bell Centre, turning the tide for the struggling Canadiens with one of the most unusual fights you’ll see on NHL ice.

The young Montreal defenseman squared off against Colorado’s Keaton Middleton when the Habs were down and looking flat against the Avalanche.

What happened next got the whole arena buzzing.

In the middle of the scrap, Xhekaj pulled something nobody saw coming – not even his opponent. The 22-year-old defender suddenly switched things up, catching Middleton completely off guard by throwing punches with his left hand.

It’s pretty rare to see a player who can fight effectively with both hands. But that’s exactly what makes Xhekaj so dangerous on the ice.

The move worked perfectly. Xhekaj got the better of Middleton, who’s no lightweight himself, in convincing fashion.

More importantly, the fight seemed to wake up his teammates. The Canadiens found their energy after watching their young defenseman’s impressive showing.

The moment was first spotted by fans on HabsOnReddit, who noticed that subtle switch that changed everything.

It’s just another reason why Xhekaj has quickly become one of the most interesting young players to watch in Montreal. He’s not just tough – he’s smart about it too.