Arber Xhekaj is at the center of a major confirmation that has Canadiens fans talking before Game 5
Arber Xhekaj may be back tonight, and Martin St-Louis sounds ready to use him in Game 5 at PNC Arena.
That's the late shift in Montreal before an elimination game against the Carolina Hurricanes, and it changes the feel of the blue line right away.
Eric Engels relayed the first sign that something was moving before the Canadiens' availability even began.
Gallagher, Kapanen, and Laine are all skating, which would indicate they'll be out of Game 5.
Arber Xhekaj could come in, but we'll see.
Neither he nor Struble are skating."
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That was enough to get attention, because Xhekaj had been sitting out while Montreal leaned on a different look on defense.
Then came the line from St-Louis, and it only pushed that belief further ahead of puck drop.
Montreal may be turning back to muscle for Game 5
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That matters because Xhekaj was no longer among the extras in Carolina, which is usually a strong sign before a lineup decision becomes official.
It also lines up with what a big part of the fan base has wanted for days: more edge, more pushback, and more bite on the back end.
Xhekaj has been out of the lineup since the start of the Eastern Conference Final, while Jayden Struble got the nod for his footspeed against Carolina's pace.
That plan had logic early. Struble's mobility fit the matchup, and Montreal clearly wanted cleaner exits and fewer footraces under pressure.
But after four rough games in this series, this looks like a shift in thinking from the Canadiens' bench.
With the season hanging there, Xhekaj brings a different tool kit: heavy corner work, stronger net-front resistance, and a presence Carolina has to notice every shift.
That's why this possible return feels bigger than a routine swap on the third pair. It could change the temperature of the whole night.
Game 5 is set for 8pm, and all eyes are now on whether number 72 steps back into the fight.
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YESTERDAY
MAY 27, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Nikolaj Ehlers | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Shayne Gostisbehere | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Sebastian Aho | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jordan Staal | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Logan Stankoven | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Andrei Svechnikov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jackson Blake | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jalen Chatfield | - | 1 | 1 | |
| K'Andre Miller | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Frederik Andersen | - | - | - | |
| Josh Anderson | - | - | - | |
| Zachary Bolduc | - | - | - | |
| Alexandre Carrier | - | - | - | |
| William Carrier | - | - | - | |
| Cole Caufield | - | - | - | |
| Kirby Dach | - | - | - | |
| Phillip Danault | - | - | - | |
| Ivan Demidov | - | - | - | |
| Jakub Dobes | - | - | - | |
| Noah Dobson | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||