Could have been a suspension - debatably late, blind side.
But no head contact, Stutzle smacks himself in the face with his own stick.
Attempted to throw a dirty hit but didn't connect. I'd call it a suspension but based on how the NHL does things it doesn't look like a suspension to me.
As an impartial habs fan... let me give you a few mins to stop laughing, here are my thoughts on Arber in general and his last 2 games in particular.
Assuming Hutson makes the team, I don't think he makes the team as a regular in the top 6. On left D they have Matheson and Hutson so its down to Xhekaj and Struble for that 3rd spot. Struble is better defensively and brings a physical element too. Best case he splits time with Struble. Struble has had a great camp, he is not being sent down. (both can be sent down without waivers).
If/when the habs start wanting to be competitive, Xhekaj is a luxury you can't afford in terms of the dumb penalties. Say he dresses in game one and mixes it up with Reaves and they both get 5 or both get 5 and 10 because the ref wants to end things now. In that scenario Leafs have a 4th line winger sitting in box for a period and Habs play a period with 5 D - who wins that exchange?
Worst case scenario he gets himself a 2, 5 and like he did 2 games ago. Even if you some how kill the major penalty you play the rest of the game down a D. A pure enforcer type on D does not work in todays game and if he is not bringing that element others like Struble are better.
He as also earned himself a rep with the Refs- he will not be getting the benefit of the doubt. His hit last night on Stutzle was not that different than Greigs on Dach. Both were late, both appeared to target the head area but neither connected. I am more than happy to give 5 and a game for those type of hits whether the head is principal point of contact or not. Greig's was called a major reviewed and down graded to 2 mins cause head was not principal pt of contact. Arber's while it looked violent was similar he hit Stutzle's arms gloves which drove stutzle's stick into his own face. So even though refs had benefit of replay he still gets 5 and a game. Again I think both deserve 5 and game but that's not how league plays these. If that was a regular season game he cost his team 2 pts.
2 games ago against you guys, he goes after Pare and gets 2, 5, and a game. Again hard to argue that was not deserved but for shits and giggles lets compare that to what happened after his hit on Stutzle last night. Brady Tkachack, jumps Xhekaj, drops his gloves and starts punching. Not that different than what he did to Pare the difference being it was immediate and Xhekaj did try to fight back. Brady got a 2 min roughing penalty for that, I agree its probably not 2 5 and a game but how is jumping a guy and throwing multiple punches roughing only.
Xhekaj has built his rep with the Refs and will struggle to get benefit of the doubt. He will cost habs more in bad penalties than his deterrence brings. If the goal is just to have him play D- others are better. So its either get better defensively to beat out a Struble, or learn how to play wing on the 4th line and beat up a Tkachuck every chance you get.
My bet is he is not in the lineup against you guys opening game.
