Arber Xhekaj makes a powerful gesture after teaching Scott Sabourin a lesson

For the past few weeks, the Canadiens defenseman had been having trouble winning his fights.

Against Scott Sabourin, Number 72 found his footing again, and it showed quickly. The duel was short, but pretty fiery, with a single punch that changed everything.

When the two guys locked up, Sabourin appeared to lose his balance after the impact. His knees buckled, and the sequence immediately took on a worrying turn. Xhekaj himself realized it was a dangerous situation, and he quickly called for medical assistance.

The referees also took control of the situation right away, without wasting time. The idea was simple: make sure the Lightning player could return to the locker room safely.

In the heat of a fight, it's a reminder that things can turn in a fraction of a second.

The detail that stands out is Xhekaj's reaction after the punch. He didn't celebrate, he didn't taunt; he immediately signaled for help. When the Sheriff lands a hit, everyone listens, but here he mainly showed that he knew where the line was.

The question that has been hanging over him for quite some time remains. Will this fight restore his confidence after a tougher stretch in his battles?

Considering that he is competing with Jayden Struble and Adam Engstrom to keep his spot in the sun, every game becomes a statement.

On Sunday, let's remember that Engstrom was the one not playing. All of this comes right after the Christmas break, in a game where the intensity was already there.

Now the focus shifts back to the scoreboard. After two periods, Tampa Bay holds a commanding 3-0 lead, putting the Canadiens in a deep hole heading into the third.

Whether Xhekaj's fight sparks a response remains to be seen, but on the ice, Montreal will need far more than emotion to claw its way back into this game.