Xhekaj Locks Into Montreal's Playoff Rotation — And the Canadiens' Physical Identity Is Paying Off

Montreal's 5-1 demolition of Buffalo in Game 2 Friday night wasn't just a statement win — it was a blueprint reveal. As The Hockey Writers reported, defenseman Arber Xhekaj finished the game on the ice during a late Sabres penalty, a symbolic moment that undersells how thoroughly the Canadiens controlled the contest from the opening period. Mike Matheson scored the game-winner early, Montreal never surrendered the lead, and the Sabres were left scrambling to match a physical tempo they clearly weren't prepared for.

Xhekaj's role in this postseason run has been shaped as much by circumstance as by design. Noah Dobson's late-season injury forced coach Martin St. Louis to lean on Xhekaj through the Tampa Bay series, and the big defenseman delivered enough to earn the trust he never quite locked down during the regular season. He played just 65 games this year — fewer than last season — and spent stretches as a healthy scratch when discipline issues outweighed his physical upside. That slashing penalty on Jordan Greenway with the score 3-0 in Game 2 is a reminder the edge is always there. But St. Louis is sticking with him, and for good reason: Xhekaj's presence measurably changes how opposing forwards operate in the corners and in front of the net.

The broader context matters here. Lane Hutson's Calder-winning rookie season transformed Montreal's power play from a liability into a weapon — the Canadiens jumped from near the bottom of the league to a playoff berth — and now Xhekaj provides the complementary muscle that postseason hockey demands. St. Louis learned this lesson the hard way against Washington last spring, when inserting Xhekaj in Game 3 coincided with the team's only win before things ultimately unraveled. He's not a luxury in May. He's a necessity.

For prop purposes, Xhekaj's cemented lineup spot has ripple effects worth tracking. He generates blocked shots at a high rate for his ice time and drives physical engagement that inflates hits totals on both sides — in a series where Buffalo is already reeling, expect Xhekaj to keep the Sabres' forwards honest and off the scoresheet. On the Canadiens' offensive side, Hutson's power-play usage remains elite, but it's Matheson — physical, mobile, logging top-four minutes — who is the under-the-radar points prop in this series after his game-winning tally in Game 2. With Montreal's blue line operating with increasing cohesion around Hutson and Matheson, power-play points for that pair deserve attention at current market prices.

St. Louis has no reason to alter his defensive configuration heading into Game 3. Montreal dictated the pace, Xhekaj stayed disciplined enough to matter, and the Sabres have shown no ability to match the Canadiens' physicality. Fade Buffalo's puck-line price if it tightens — the Habs' structure and depth are increasingly built for a long playoff run, not a stumble.