Habs enforcer blasts Ottawa's Ridly Greig for sucker punch

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj, no stranger to on-ice scraps himself, drew a clear line in the sand when discussing Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig’s sucker punch on Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker during Game 4 of their first-round playoff series. The incident unfolded in a scrum during the second period on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with Greig landing a punch on Walker while he had his head down and was outnumbered. Xhekaj called it out bluntly, highlighting how even his own rough history doesn’t excuse such a play.

Xhekaj’s comments came amid a playoff first round marked by escalating physicality across the league, where cheap shots and post-whistle chaos have overshadowed the limited number of official fights.

The sucker punch that crossed the line

The play happened in a heated scrum, with Walker restrained and vulnerable—two Ottawa players against one. Greig took advantage, delivering an uppercut that many deemed indefensible, especially with referees nearby but not intervening. No penalty was called on the ice, but cameras caught it all, sparking immediate backlash online and in broadcasts.

Walker didn’t let it slide. Later in the second period, he exacted revenge with a heavy hit from behind on Greig, leveling the score in the eyes of many enforcers. This back-and-forth exemplifies the unwritten code of playoff hockey, where players police themselves when officials don’t.

The Hurricanes ultimately won Game 4 4-2, sweeping the young Senators and advancing to the second round. For Greig, a promising talent, the moment could linger, potentially drawing supplemental discipline from the league.

Fans piled on post-game, with calls for a suspension echoing across social media.

Xhekaj’s unique perspective

Arber Xhekaj knows rough play intimately. The Habs enforcer led Montreal with 116 penalty minutes this season and has a history of fines for elbows, pre-game provocations, and even accidentally punching a referee. Yet, he drew a firm boundary: “I’ve done some dirty plays in my career that I’ve probably regretted. But I don’t think when a guy has his head down like that you should punch it, especially when it’s two guys against one—I hate that kind of stuff.”

With eight penalty minutes already in three playoff games, Xhekaj has felt the playoff intensity firsthand, including Tampa Bay’s 52 penalty minutes and 77 hits in Game 2 against Montreal.

His candor adds weight, coming from someone who’s embodied the enforcer role. Xhekaj noted the playoffs always surprise with physicality, but this year feels ramped up.

It underscores a key playoff truth: even tough guys have limits.

Playoff violence hits new heights

Hockeyfights.com logs just five official fights in the first round so far, a stark contrast to the barrage of head shots, cheap shots, and scrums. Games like Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Game 3 saw 22 penalty minutes in one period alone, with players jammed in boxes.

• Tampa Bay vs. Montreal Game 2: 52 PIM, 77 hits.
• Pittsburgh’s Game 4 win: Sidney Crosby wrestling Travis Sanheim, followed by Rasmus Ristolainen’s slash.
• Countless post-whistle melees league-wide.

Xhekaj observed, “It always seems like every year they talk about how physical it is. And then it still catches everyone by surprise. But it feels like this year is ramped up even more.”

Former NHLer Scott Sabourin, inserted for physicality in Tampa’s lineup, explained it as teams making opponents uncomfortable—a playoff staple.

Reactions pour in from across the league

Criticism was swift and sharp. Paul Bissonnette on NHL on TNT called it “absolute B.S.,” while Sportsnet’s Kelly Hrudey labeled it “gutless and disgusting.”

Sabourin, Greig’s ex-teammate with Tampa, offered context: “I think in the spur of the moment, things get heated… But what he forgot about was that there’s cameras everywhere these days.” He praised Walker’s payback but expects Greig to “answer the bell next year.”

Fans demanded a five-game suspension, dubbing it a “five-gamer.”

The incident highlights accountability in a camera-filled era.

Greig’s youth and competitiveness may earn him grace, but the play serves as a reminder: playoffs forgive little, and justice often comes swiftly on the ice.

As the Hurricanes advance, this series sets a tone for heightened vigilance. Expect more enforcement calls and player-led reckonings, ensuring the code endures amid the chaos—what it means for the Cup chase is teams must balance edge with restraint.