Reaves: Xhekaj's point to scoreboard in eventual Leafs win a 'tough look'

Karma came back to haunt Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj in Saturday's loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With Montreal up 3-0 early in the game, Maple Leafs enforcer Ryan Reaves tried to fight Xhekaj, but the Canadiens' heavyweight declined and pointed to the scoreboard.

The gesture didn't age well, though, as the Maple Leafs stormed back with seven unanswered goals to win 7-3.

Reaves sounded off Tuesday on how Xhekaj handled the incident.

"I think when you're a younger guy and you do that to somebody who's been in the league for that long, maybe that guy's not going to give you (a fight) when you need one," Reaves said.

"Anytime there's a fight now, somebody needs some momentum. If he needed momentum and asked me, and I give it to him, then I expect it back. I would've obliged if he would've done it there. You want to point at the scoreboard then get rattled off for seven, that's a tough look."

The two didn't end up fighting in the contest, though Xhekaj caught Reaves with a big open-ice hit early in the second period.

Reaves and Xhekaj have fought each other once before, in October 2023.

Strangely, Reaves has yet to drop the gloves this season.