Montreal Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson had an expensive and frustrating night during Wednesday's 3-2 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets. The veteran blueliner broke three of his hockey sticks during the contest, each valued at approximately $400, culminating in a crucial overtime opportunity lost when his stick snapped on a one-timer setup from Cole Caufield.
The Costly Stick Saga
Matheson uses a Warrior Covert QR6 Pro stick, which retails for around $400. While he has an endorsement deal with Warrior, the NHL team ultimately covers the cost of players' equipment. Breaking three in one game represents a significant, albeit minor, line item. "It's frustrating," Matheson admitted after practice. "We're playing important games and that's where my head's at." He could not recall ever breaking three sticks in a single game before, calling it a "fluke thing."
Teammate Brendan Gallagher, who uses the same model, joked he was "ready to make a call" to Warrior. The incident brought back memories for Matheson of his youth on Montreal's West Island, where he and his siblings used wooden sticks until bantam. He recalled a time he and his brother splurged on new one-piece sticks only to break both in their first game. "Three hundred dollars down the drain, or whatever it was," he said.
Xhekaj's Maturation as a Protector and Player
While Matheson dealt with equipment failure, teammate Arber Xhekaj continues to refine his unique role. The defenceman known for his physicality and fighting ability is earning increased trust from head coach Martin St. Louis to pick his moments wisely.
This was evident in back-to-back games last week. Against Ottawa, he smartly avoided engaging with Senators tough-guy Kurtis MacDermid, who plays minimal minutes solely for his enforcer role. St. Louis noted he no longer needs to have conversations with Xhekaj about when to fight, stating, "I think he's figured it out. I trust him."
Conversely, in the win over Winnipeg, Xhekaj immediately fought Jets captain Adam Lowry after a clean hit, judging it the right time to spark his team. He won the bout, a morale boost after losing two of his previous three fights. "The fighting is his business," St. Louis said. "It's not an easy job, but he does a good job." Xhekaj emphasized that while fighting remains part of his identity and creates space on the ice, his focus is on playing quality minutes. St. Louis has indicated that more quality play will lead to more ice time.
Around the Locker Room: Ice Time, Nicknames, and History
Matheson leads the Canadiens and ranks ninth in the NHL with an average of 24:46 of ice time per game. His elite skating and fitness are key reasons the team recently signed him to a five-year, $30 million contract extension. Since the start of the 2023-24 season, no NHL player has logged more total minutes than Matheson.
The podcast Spittin' Chiclets this week revealed the origin of Matheson's nickname "Billy," from the movie Billy Madison. It was given by former teammate Mike Hoffman in Florida but only stuck when Hoffman brought it to Montreal and the young players adopted it.
The article also noted the 30th anniversary of the franchise-altering trade that sent goalie Patrick Roy and captain Mike Keane to the Colorado Avalanche. The trade occurred on December 6, 1995, four days after a notorious incident where then-coach Mario Tremblay left Roy in net for nine goals.
Meanwhile, Florian Xhekaj, Arber's brother, was returned to the AHL's Laval Rocket after a five-game stint with the Canadiens that included his first NHL road trip. He cited walking the Las Vegas strip with teammates as a memorable highlight before returning to the long bus rides of the minor leagues.
