Thursday's game between Montreal and Florida was a rough one, with three fights and 90 combined penalty minutes.
Late in the third period, while up 6-2, Florida Panthers defenceman Radko Gudas took a run at Canadiens forward Kirby Dach's knee. There was no penalty on the play and after the game, Canadiens rookie Arber Xhekaj called out the 11-year pro for not answering the bell.
"He never does. I don't know what's up with that guy. He'll be taking runs at guys' knees all game. He does play hard, I'll give it to him. But at some point you've gotta show that you're going to be able to do that." Xhekaj said.
Arber Xhekaj on Radko Gudas not "answering the bell."
«He never does. I don't know what's up with that guy. He'll be taking runs at guys' knees all game. He does play hard, I'll give it to him. But at some point you've gotta show that you're going to be able to do that.»— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 20, 2023
Xhekaj then went on to talk about an unpenalized hit on the number by Grigori Denisenko and was not happy about it going uncalled.
"You don't like that. Obv, if they call Andy's penalty on Gudas, it's a weak call. And then my neck into the boards like that. I get it, I'm a big guy, but you've gotta call the game. That's how it gets out of control..."
Xhekaj on unpenalized hit in the numbers from Denisenko:
«You don't like that. Obv, if they call Andy's penalty on Gudas, it's a weak call. And then my neck into the boards like that. I get it, I'm a big guy, but you've gotta call the game. That's how it gets out of control..."— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 20, 2023
The Canadiens and Panthers will face each other two more times this season, with the next meeting coming on March 16th down in Sunrise.
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