In a fiery pre-season game between the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens, tempers flared and emotions ran high following a controversial hit that left one player injured and another ejected from the game.
Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig did not mince words when he described Arber Xhekaj’s hit on teammate Tim Stützle as "dirty." Speaking to reporters after the game, Greig said, “A dirty play, the league will handle that."
The incident occurred in the second period of the game when Xhekaj delivered a high hit on Stützle, sending him crashing to the ice. Stützle, who was skating into the offensive zone, suffered a cut on his nose and was ruled out of the game with an upper-body injury. Xhekaj received a five-minute major penalty and was subsequently ejected from the game.
Senators captain Brady Tkachuk also found himself sidelined with an upper-body injury after engaging in a fight with Xhekaj immediately following the hit on Stützle. Head coach Travis Green commented on Tkachuk’s response, saying, “When he sees his centreman take a deliberate head shot…whoever is on the ice is going to stand up for their teammates. He is who he is, but I don’t want him to fight all the time.”
Earlier in the game, tensions escalated when Greig delivered a hit on Kirby Dach, prompting a heated exchange between the two players. Dach expressed his frustration with the situation, saying, “I don’t think it was a hockey play but sh** happens, you have to move on."
Reflecting on his hit on Dach, Greig admitted, “It’s definitely a bad read on my part…I had to keep my head up after that.”
The events of the game serve as a reminder of the physicality and intensity that can characterize matches between rival teams in the NHL. As the league reviews the incident, fans and players alike will be watching closely to see how the situation unfolds.
