Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj (72) during warm-up before game four of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round between the Buffalo Sabres and the Montreal Canadiens on May 12, 2026, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Arber Xhekaj reportedly helped emergency responders during a scary situation near Montreal’s Lachine Canal while the Montreal Canadiens took on the Buffalo Sabres in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The off-ice incident quickly garnered attention after reports that Xhekaj jumped into action after seeing someone fall into the water.The Montreal Canadiens defenseman was reportedly with his brother, Florian Xhekaj, between Games 3 and 4 of the playoff series when the emergency unfolded. Details are still scant, but the individual survived when emergency personnel arrived on scene, providing yet another surprise chapter in the ongoing NHL news roundup chatter surrounding Montreal’s playoff run.
Arber Xhekaj and Montreal Canadiens respond during Montreal emergency
Arber Xhekaj reportedly alerted emergency services after seeing the dangerous situation near Montreal’s Lachine Canal.Montreal reports say Arber Xhekaj and Florian Xhekaj were walking near the canal when they spotted someone in trouble in the water. Though several bystanders were reportedly present when the incident occurred, the Montreal Canadiens defenseman was quick to react and help coordinate with responders arriving on the scene.Reports also indicated that Xhekaj did not jump into the canal himself, an important decision as water rescues can quickly become very dangerous without proper equipment and training. Emergency crews later were able to deal with the situation, and the person survived.The development quickly became one of the biggest NHL updates concerning the Montreal Canadiens, away from their playoff matchup with the Buffalo Sabres.The timing was also noticeable as the incident reportedly took place shortly after tensions flared during the playoff series. Arber Xhekaj had already been in the headlines following a heated altercation with Buffalo Sabres forward Sam Carrick in Game 3 of the series.Instead of another on-ice confrontation dominating NHL trade rumors and playoff discussions, attention shifted toward Xhekaj’s calm response during a real-life emergency situation.The Montreal Canadiens are still focused on going further into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but this off-ice story has added a human element to ongoing NHL Match Results and playoff coverage.
