(Tempe, Arizona) The celebration of Juraj Slafkovsky’s first goal last week is one of those images that will circulate for a long time in the Canadiens’ montages, a bit like Alex Kovalev’s goal scored “with no helmet”.
Posted yesterday at 10:11 p.m.
This celebration included foul language, according to those with a knack for reading lips. Slafkovsky and Arber Xhekaj were indeed blaming Josh Brown, the Coyotes defenseman who had just checked Slafkovsky. Xhekaj immediately rushed Brown to avenge Slafkovsky, leading to a turnover, then to the first base of the very first pick in the last draft.
Brown was obviously unimpressed.
“I know in the video it looks like I’m watching Slafkovsky, but I’m actually watching Xhekaj,” said Brown, who crossed paths Thursday after Coyotes practice.
“Xhekaj had come to avenge his teammate, so after the goal, we kept yelling at each other. I understand that Slafkovsky was happy to have scored. But several players contacted me afterwards and told me that players shouldn’t do this. »
No matter. He can celebrate his goals any way he wants. I don’t care.
Josh Brown on Juraj Slafkovsky’s reaction to his first career goal
Strong language is common during games, so much so that in its annual internal poll, the Players Association once asked its members to vote for the best player in terms of insults.
But in this case, after a goal, Brown would have preferred Slafkovsky to pass. “It’s pretty obvious what I didn’t like. I don’t really have anything to add. »
Respect for Xhekaj
Slafkovsky’s goal was the highlight of this duel against the Coyotes, but some fans of the rough game liked the fight delivered by Xhekaj, then in his fifth NHL game, against veteran Zack Kassian, a of the most feared strongmen on the circuit.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Arber Xhekaj during his fight against Zack Kassian
Kassian made his NHL debut at age 20. However, he arrived as a first-round pick (13e in total), a course at the antipodes of that of Xhekaj, never fished out.
“I remember that I also had to make a name for myself, and he did it against me,” said Kassian.
He is big and strong. He surprised me by quickly charging at me at the start of the fight. So I couldn’t grab it. It’s a fight, we win and we lose, and that’s fine.
Zack Kassian
One thing that is striking about Xhekaj is the confidence he displays in his step. It’s hard to describe, but it’s a trait that comes up whenever the colossus in number 72 is mentioned. A confidence that Kassian admires.
“You have to be confident to play in the NHL,” said the 31-year-old winger. Undrafted players may feel less pressure to play their role, because the expectations are not the same as first- or second-round picks who are scrutinized.
“Xhekaj is a rookie who wants to make a name for himself and it seems to be off to a good start. Every player wants to impose respect and he does it from game to game. »