Josh Norris and Arber Xhekaj leave Sabres and Canadiens facing a player-safety problem after ugly scrums

This isn't just a late-game scrum story out of Montreal.

It's a Department of Player Safety story because both clips below carry the same problem: a player taking a free shot while the other guy isn't set.

Xhekaj's right hand on Sam Carrick looked bad enough on its own. Carrick's arms appeared tied up, and that's where the league's review usually starts.

The clip shows Xhekaj stepping into the scrum and landing clean while Carrick is already tangled.

Norris' moment may be harder for Buffalo to defend.

Zachary Bolduc was being held in place when Norris came through with the shot, which makes this look less like playoff chaos and more like a suspension file.

This clip is worse because Bolduc doesn't have a real lane to protect himself or answer back.

Bolduc has 1 goal and 4 assists in 9 playoff games, with a +5 rating.

Montreal can absorb a possible Xhekaj absence more easily than Buffalo can absorb Norris coming out of its top six.

Norris carries a $7,950,000 cap hit, and Ruff doesn't have many clean center replacements if Player Safety takes him off the lineup card.

Xhekaj is still exposed here. He played 65 regular-season games, finished at -8, and his reputation will not help him in a review room.

But the league's harder decision sits with Norris because the held-player angle is the part that usually drives discipline.

Game 4 at Bell Centre now has a different edge. The scoreboard matters, but the lineup card may decide the next swing.