[Must Watch] Florian Xhekaj’s mother’s priceless response after debutant bloodies Dakota Mermis in no-holds barred brawl throughout fiery Habs-Leafs conflict

Following his elder brother’s footsteps, Florian Xhekaj dropped the mitts in his NHL debut for the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday of their 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 6’3” winger additionally recorded an help within the recreation, his ever level within the huge leagues.

Within the third interval, with 5:34 left to play, Xhekaj bought right into a bodily tangle with the Leafs’ Dakota Mermis, following a scrum. The 2 traded a number of punches earlier than it was halted by the referees.

As Xhekaj headed for the bench, hyping up the Bell Centre on the best way, the cameras intercut between his brother, Arber Xhekaj, and fogeys, Simona Xhekaj and Jack Xhekaj’s response. Whereas his brother and father have been happy, his mom had little expression on her face. She later gave a slight shake of the top.

Simona Xhekaj has been very excited for her son’s debut since he was known as up from the Laval Rockets. She had posted a candy motivational message after his debut was introduced.

“How is one presupposed to really feel? Congratulations Flo. If you happen to consider, you obtain. Desires positive do come true. And sure, You wager I’ll see it with my very own eyes,” she had written on her X account on Thursday.

Simona Xhekaj, a former athlete herself, in response to her X account, will need to have been happy with Florian incomes his first level by way of an help on Josh Anderson’s objective within the second interval that gave Montreal a 4-0 lead. He completed the sport with a plus-one ranking and had two pictures on objective, whereas blocking one.

Florian Xhekaj makes emotions identified about his NHL debut

Xhekaj has earned a fame for an enormous bodily presence whereas suiting for the Laval Rockets. Final season, he had 175 penalty minutes in 69 video games of the common season of the American Hockey League and an additional 59 penalty minutes in 10 playoff video games. For him, his debut, which contained a combat, made it memorable.

“That was superior,” he mentioned throughout his media scrum after the sport on Saturday. “It was an unbelievable first recreation. I don’t assume I may ask for a greater first one. They (his teammates) have been fairly fired up. I used to be fired up. It’s good to see that they preferred it. It type of fired up our bench; fired up our crowd. I had a lot adrenaline.”

Regardless of his bodily play, Xhekaj earned the call-up after scoring 35 factors in 2024-25 with a plus-10 ranking. He might be effectively used as a bottom-six ahead by the Habs. They broke a five-game shedding streak because of this.