Despite Wednesday night's defeat, it's safe to say that the Canadiens put on a good performance. That's exactly what you expect in the midst of a rebuild. It won't be perfect, there will be many losses, but it takes good entertainment.
If there's one player who had a strong game, it's Arber Xhekaj. The colossal defenseman likely delivered the best performance of his young NHL career, and it's very encouraging.
In the post-game press conference, Martin St-Louis made sure to acknowledge his good work, but there was something that seemed to bother him. He evidently doesn't seem to like the nickname 'The Sheriff.'
Certainly, in the eyes of fans, Xhekaj is the Canadiens' enforcer on the ice, the one who maintains order. And Wednesday night, he did that job perfectly, without having to fight or take penalties.
Regardless, it was good to see Arber play like that, and the Canadiens played well enough to win, but the final score didn't turn in their favor.
