The National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety has officially issued disciplinary actions following a chaotic Game 3 between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens.
Tensions boiled over during the Canadiens’ 6-2 victory at the Bell Centre, leading to multiple reviews of player conduct on the ice. On Monday, the league confirmed that maximum allowable fines have been handed out to both Montreal defenseman Arber Xhekaj and Buffalo forward Beck Malenstyn.
These rulings come as the physical intensity of this second-round playoff series reaches a fever pitch with Montreal holding a 2-1 lead.
What were the specific incidents in Game 3?
The league focused on two primary incidents involving goaltender interference and a late-game physical confrontation between rival skaters. During the second period, Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn drew the ire of the Montreal crowd when he crashed heavily into Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes.
Malenstyn appeared to be driving hard toward the crease for a loose puck but failed to make a significant effort to avoid the collision with the young netminder. While the Sabres argued Malenstyn was nudged into the crease, the NHL determined the contact was avoidable and warranted a financial penalty.
The second incident occurred in the final seconds of the third period, as the outcome of the game had already been decided. Montreal’s Arber Xhekaj became involved in a heated puck battle in the corner with Buffalo’s Sam Carrick. As the clock wound down, Xhekaj delivered a cross-check from behind, followed by a gloved punch that dropped Carrick to the ice.
Officials assessed a minor penalty for roughing at the 19:56 mark, but the Department of Player Safety felt additional supplemental discipline was required to address the nature of the blow.
How much were the players fined?
Both players received the maximum fines allowable under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement for their respective infractions.
Beck Malenstyn was hit with a fine of $3,515.63 for his interference with Jakub Dobes. This figure represents the ceiling for such a violation without a formal in-person hearing. The league’s decision emphasizes the ongoing priority of protecting goaltenders, especially during the high-stakes environment of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Arber Xhekaj was fined $3,385.42 for his roughing incident against Sam Carrick. The slight difference in the dollar amounts between the two players is due to the specific calculation of daily salary percentages outlined in the CBA. All proceeds from these fines are directed to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Little-known fact: The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres first met in the NHL playoffs in 1973, a series the Canadiens won on their way to a Stanley Cup title.
How did the coaches react to the lack of discipline?
Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff expressed frustration with his team’s lack of composure throughout the game. Following the 6-2 loss, Ruff highlighted that the Sabres took five offensive zone penalties, which stunted any momentum they gained from Tage Thompson’s early goal.
The veteran coach noted that “playing to our standard” involves staying out of the box and avoiding the type of extracurricular activities that led to Malenstyn’s fine.
Montreal’s Game 3 win was driven by special teams and scoring, while Buffalo’s discipline issues were emphasized by Ruff.
Fun fact: The Bell Centre in Montreal, where Game 3 was held, is the largest hockey arena in the NHL by seating capacity, holding over 21,000 fans.
What does this mean for the rest of the series?
The disciplinary actions serve as a stern warning from the league that further escalations will likely result in missed games.
Following the Game 3 incidents, the focus shifted to whether the Sabres could reclaim their discipline or if the Canadiens would continue to dictate the physical terms of the series. The “bad blood” was clearly established by the time the teams took the ice for the next contest, and the Department of Player Safety watched closely for any retaliatory actions.
After Montreal’s 6-2 Game 3 win, Buffalo answered in Game 4 with a 3-2 victory to tie the series at 2-2, so the Canadiens did not immediately maintain momentum. Still, the fines to Beck Malenstyn and Arber Xhekaj added another layer of tension to an already physical series.
Malenstyn’s goaltender-interference incident involving Jakub Dobes raised the temperature between the teams, while Buffalo showed it could flip the script when it stayed disciplined and capitalized on power-play chances. Montreal later regained control with a 6-3 Game 5 win, taking a 3-2 series lead heading back to Bell Centre.
Are there other looming disciplinary issues?
Wait-and-see remains the vibe for other potential reviews, as Game 4 also featured controversial sequences.
While the Game 3 fines are settled, the league is reportedly looking into a sequence from the following game where Montreal forward Zack Bolduc was involved in a scrum with Peyton Krebs. Any “match penalty” style infractions, like kicking or intentional head contact, are treated with zero tolerance by the league offices.
For now, the Sabres and Canadiens must navigate the emotional roller coaster of postseason hockey. The fines issued to Xhekaj and Malenstyn are a reminder that even in the playoffs, there are boundaries to physical play. The officials for upcoming games will likely have a short leash on any shoving after the whistle to ensure the series doesn’t devolve into a bench-clearing situation.
TL;DR
- The NHL Department of Player Safety fined Arber Xhekaj (Montreal) and Beck Malenstyn (Buffalo) for Game 3 incidents.
- Malenstyn was fined $3,515.63 for goalie interference on Jakub Dobes; Xhekaj was fined $3,385.42 for roughing Sam Carrick.
- Both fines are the maximum allowable under the CBA without a hearing.
- The disciplinary actions come amid a heated series where Montreal currently leads 2-1.
- Coaches from both teams have emphasized the need for smarter play to avoid further penalties.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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