The exhibition game between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators was no ordinary pre-season game, with controversial incidents in every period of the game. Tensions began in the first frame as Ottawa’s Ridly Greig laid a high hit on Montreal’s Kirby Dach.
The Canadiens player did not like the treatment against Dach, and in the second period, things went from bad to worse. Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle had just released the puck when Arber Xhekaj stepped up with a hit that initially seemed to make contact with Stutzle’s head.
Xhekaj was ejected from the game, and fans quickly called for the NHL to suspend him for the hit.
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But now, an alternate angle of the hit has been released, and it’s shed new light on the incident.
From this alternate angle, it seems obvious that Xhekaj doesn’t make contact with Stutzle’s head but instead with his chest. Stutzle’s own stick appears to have damaged his head.
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On social media, many fans were quick to change their views.
”Doesn’t look too bad from this angle,” one said.
”No head shot there. Stick knocked his helmet off,” another said.
”No head contact. Impact with Arber’s shoulder on Stutzle chest,” a third added.
With this alternate angle in mind, it’s fair to say that Xhekaj didn’t deserve a suspension for the hit, unlike what most people asked for when it initially happened.
