Brendan Gallagher gets surprising referee explanation after Arber Xhekaj penalty
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Daniel Lucente
May 2, 2026 (11:12)
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Photo credit: © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Brendan Gallagher and Martin St-Louis just watched one Arber Xhekaj penalty become a Canadiens flashpoint.
The issue wasn’t only the 2-minute minor. It was the explanation Brendan Gallagher got on the ice.
According to Renaud Lavoie on TVA Sports, the referee told Gallagher that Xhekaj never played the puck.
The official also called the move on Max Crozier completely illegal, then added that it happened after the whistle.
"The referee told Gallagher that Xhekaj never played the puck.
He also said the move on Crozier was completely illegal.
The official added one more point: it happened after the whistle."
- Renaud Lavoie
He also said the move on Crozier was completely illegal.
The official added one more point: it happened after the whistle."
- Renaud Lavoie
That turns a net-front scrum into something bigger for Montreal: a standard the Canadiens now have to manage shift by shift.
In the sequence, Xhekaj ties up Crozier at the top of the crease, then brings him down as both players battle around the loose puck.
Xhekaj penalty puts Montreal on notice
This is where the story moves beyond outrage. If officials are watching Xhekaj that tightly, Martin St-Louis has a tactical problem on his blue line.
Xhekaj’s edge is part of his value. Strip too much of it away, and Montreal loses bite around the crease.
But if he crosses the line again, the Canadiens risk handing Tampa Bay power-play time in a series already tied at 3.
That is why Gallagher matters here. He wasn’t just arguing a call; he was getting the working standard directly from the official.
For the locker room, that message travels fast. Do not assume net-front contact will be treated like playoff hockey just because bodies are crowded near the crease.
The Canadiens lost the game 1-0 in overtime, but the whistle created a new pressure point before Game 7 back in Tampa.
Now St-Louis has to keep Xhekaj aggressive without letting Tampa Bay bait him into another penalty. That balance could shape the next puck drop.
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