In a historic moment for the franchise, the Montreal Canadiens will ice the Xhekaj brothers together for the first time as they face off against the archrival Toronto Maple Leafs on Hockey Night in Canada.
Brotherly Debut on the Big Stage
Florian Xhekaj will make his NHL debut tonight, joining his older brother Arber in the lineup for this classic Original Six matchup. The younger Xhekaj has been developing with the AHL's Laval Rocket this season, recording four points and accumulating 44 penalty minutes in 16 games.
To make room for Florian, the Canadiens have sent Joshua Roy back to Laval. Florian is expected to slot in on the third line, bringing his physical presence to a team that has struggled recently.
Lineup Changes and Injury Updates
Jake Evans, who left Thursday's game after taking a hit from Tom Wilson, has been cleared to play and will be in the lineup against the Leafs. His return provides additional depth and experience to the Canadiens' forward group.
Between the pipes, Jakub Dobes will get the start in goal for Montreal as they look to snap out of their current slump. The Canadiens enter the game with a 10-7-3 record, while Toronto sits at 9-9-3.
Seeking to End the Slide
The timing of Florian Xhekaj's debut couldn't be more critical for the struggling Canadiens. The team has lost their last five consecutive games and seven of their last eight overall, creating urgency for a turnaround against their biggest rival.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Bell Centre, with broadcast coverage on CBC, TVA Sports, SNE, SNO, SNP, and radio broadcasts on TSN Radio 690 and 98.5 FM.
Hockey fans are eagerly anticipating whether the Xhekaj brothers can become the physical presence Montreal has been searching for, potentially providing the emotional lift needed to reverse the team's fortunes in this crucial divisional matchup.
