Tonight's matchup for the Montreal Canadiens brings an intriguing twist, with head coach Martin St-Louis possibly unveiling a strategic surprise involving the physical prowess of defenseman Arber Xhekaj.
With Josh Anderson donning a non-contact jersey in practice and missing the morning skate, his presence on the ice tonight seems improbable. Meanwhile, forward Joe Veleno put in extra work this morning, hinting at his likely absence from the lineup as well.
This leaves the Canadiens in a bit of a bind, short on forwards. The name that jumps out as a possible fill-in is Patrik Laine, but here's where things get interesting. Laine might be the only available forward option if Anderson and Veleno are sidelined.
However, Martin St-Louis might have a different game plan. Could Arber Xhekaj step into a forward role on the fourth line?
Instead of calling up an emergency forward, St-Louis might opt for an 11-forward, 7-defenseman setup. This would see Xhekaj, alongside Jayden Struble, as the seventh defenseman.
Facing the formidable Carolina Hurricanes, the Canadiens could benefit from Xhekaj's physicality, especially with Anderson out. Deploying Xhekaj up front might just replace the missing grit and muscle along the boards.
Is this the surprise St-Louis has planned for tonight? Fans will want to keep their eyes peeled during warmups at 6:30 PM to see if Xhekaj takes on a dual role as a defenseman or forward.
At 6-foot-4, Xhekaj, who joined the Canadiens as a free agent in 2021, brings significant size and strength. His potential shift in position tonight adds a layer of intrigue to an already compelling matchup.