The Bell Centre’s lights burned brighter than usual, but the real electricity crackled between two men whose names have become synonymous with raw power and calculated risk. In a single frozen moment, Arber Xhekaj’s fist met Adam Lowry’s resolve, and the entire city of Montreal seemed to hold its breath—not in anticipation of violence, but in awe of the choices unfolding on the ice. There are hockey fights, and then there are the kind that make legends out of ordinary nights. This was the latter.
Photo credit: All Montreal Hockey / NHL

If you blinked, you missed the instant where Xhekaj’s eyes scanned the chaos around the net, weighing not just the odds of victory but the invisible stakes—reputation, loyalty, the subtle chess game every enforcer plays beneath the surface. The scoreboard glowed, the crowd roared, but beneath the noise, something more complex was happening. The Canadiens’ defenseman, often painted as a bruiser, was about to rewrite his own narrative with a single, perfectly timed decision. Yet what really happened in those adrenaline-soaked seconds? Why did Xhekaj pick this fight, and what does it mean for the Canadiens, for Lowry, and for the league as a whole?

Montreal is no stranger to controversy, and for weeks, Xhekaj has been the epicenter of debate. Fans and analysts alike have dissected every shift, every stare-down, every moment when the gloves stayed on or came off. When Kurtis MacDermid tried to bait him into a meaningless scrap, Xhekaj simply pointed to the scoreboard—a silent rebuke that made headlines and sent a message: not every fight is worth the price. But Wednesday’s showdown was different. The stakes were higher, the opponent more dangerous, and the consequences far-reaching. In the blink of an eye, the Canadiens’ blue line went from vulnerable to unbreakable, and a captain found himself trading punches with a man who has learned to choose his battles with surgical precision.

What unfolded on the ice was more than a tussle—it was a statement. Xhekaj logged 13:41 of ice time, registered a single shot, and sat for five minutes after defending Alexandre Carrier, a teammate whose own role has quietly grown into one of Montreal’s most important. Meanwhile, Lowry, the Jets’ captain with a fresh $25 million contract and a reputation for leadership, was forced to watch from the penalty box as his team scrambled to fill the void. The numbers tell one story; the faces in the crowd tell another. For a defenseman still fighting for his place in Martin St-Louis’ system, every decision is magnified, every move scrutinized.

But here’s where the story twists. Martin Lemay, a voice respected in hockey circles, didn’t just praise Xhekaj—he tipped his hat, calling the decision “smart” and “strategic.” Fighting MacDermid, Lemay argued, would have been a waste, a loss for the Canadiens. But taking on Lowry? That was a masterstroke, the kind of moment that can change a career, shift a locker room, and send ripples across the league.

What did Xhekaj know that others didn’t? What does this fight say about the changing nature of hockey’s unwritten rules? And how will this night echo in the halls of Montreal’s storied franchise? The answers are more complicated—and more fascinating—than you might think. Keep reading, because this is one battle whose true impact is only just beginning to unfold.

Photo of Arber Xhekaj

Photo credit: All Montreal Hockey / NHL

Arber Xhekaj picked his moment, and that choice has all of Montreal talking.

For the past few weeks, the Canadiens’ tough defenseman has been at the center of constant debate. We saw Kurtis MacDermid try to lure him into a fight at the Bell Centre, and Xhekaj responded by pointing to the scoreboard instead of dropping the gloves.

On Wednesday night against the Winnipeg Jets, the scenario was entirely different. Late in the first period, Alexandre Carrier got roughed up in a scrum in front of the net, and this time, Adam Lowry found himself tied up with Xhekaj.

The two dropped the gloves, the Bell Centre erupted, and the Jets’ captain headed to the locker room with him.

In an already tight game, Xhekaj logged 13:41 of ice time, registered a shot on goal, and took 5 minutes for his fight with Lowry. Carrier, for his part, played 18:18, once again used as an important top-four defenseman for Montreal.

Arber Xhekaj chooses his battles

This is where Martin Lemay’s comment makes perfect sense. Fighting MacDermid – a tough guy who plays barely 4:25 per game this season in Ottawa – removes a Canadiens defenseman in exchange for a depth player with no points on the board.

“Arber Xhekaj fighting MacDermid accomplishes nothing. We lose a defenseman against a guy who plays 5 minutes.

Arber Xhekaj fighting Lowry the captain, an important player, to defend Carrier. THAT!! That is smart!!

Hats off, Arber!! – Martin Lemay

Fighting Lowry is a completely different story. The 32-year-old Jets captain just signed a $25 million extension over five years, plays around 14 minutes per night, and already has three points in thirteen games this season. When he’s in the penalty box, Winnipeg loses far more than a few punches.

At 24 years old, Xhekaj earns $1.3 million per season through 2025-2026 thanks to a two-year, $2.6 million contract.

For a rugged defenseman still under his coach’s microscope, every decision matters, and a well-calculated move like this one can carry serious weight when the time comes to talk about his future in Montreal.

On Wednesday, he didn’t just stand up for a well-liked teammate like Carrier. He also reminded the entire league that he can channel his sheriff role strategically.

Martin St-Louis also offered strong praise for Arber after the game.

No surprise that an analyst like Lemay tipped his hat. And judging by the fans’ reaction, this time, everyone seems to agree with him.