Montreal Canadiens Turn to Xhekaj as Fill-In for Injured Defenceman Carrier TAMPA, Fla. — The Montreal Canadiens have announced that defenceman Alexandre Carrier will miss two to four weeks due to an upper-body injury, leaving the team to rely on Arber Xhekaj as a temporary replacement. Carrier, who played just over 19 minutes in the Canadiens’ 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, sustained the injury during a game in which he was hit six times—twice with bodychecks and four times with shots. Despite the physical toll, Carrier showed no signs of injury, underscoring the team’s loss. The 29-year-old defenceman has been a key contributor this season, logging 19:05 per game in 73 contests while tallying seven goals and 22 points. His 155 blocks rank eighth in the NHL, though he trails league leader Noah Dobson by 14. Carrier’s absence will be felt in multiple areas, including his role as a penalty killer and his physical presence on the blue line. Coach Martin St. Louis emphasized the team’s need to adapt, noting that Xhekaj will step into the right-side role for Tuesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Xhekaj, a left-handed defenceman, has struggled this season, averaging just 11:10 per game and being scratched from six consecutive contests prior to Carrier’s injury. The 25-year-old, who was a standout in training camp, has been used sparingly since the season began, despite his physicality and ability to make plays. With Carrier sidelined, Xhekaj’s opportunity to showcase his skills has arrived. St. Louis praised Xhekaj’s potential, stating, “To me, it’s to stack up his actions throughout his shifts. Whether it was a good shift or a bad shift, it’s what’s next.#tampa_bay_lightning #montreal_canadiens #alexandre_carrier #arber_xhekaj #martin_st_louis
