"Arber Xhekaj really fell off, can’t even beat Lowry": NHL fans react as heavyweights trade blows in spirited fight during Habs v Jets

During Wednesday's matchup at the Bell Centre, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj engaged in a physical altercation with Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry, sparking reactions on social media.

The incident unfolded in the opening frame, sparked by Lowry’s hit on Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier behind the net, prompting Arber Xhekaj to challenge him at center ice immediately.

Both players exchanged haymakers in a heated scrap, but it was Xhekaj who got the better of Lowry with a series of left punches that dropped him to the ice. Here's how fans on X (formerly called Twitter) reacted to the scrap.

Watch the video below:

One tweeted:

"Damn Xhekaj really fell off eh can’t even beat Lowry."

TJ

@johntleafs

@spittinchiclets Damn Xhekaj really fell off eh can’t even beat Lowry

Another chimed in:

"The Canadiens guy doesn’t actually fight - he mostly pulls and spins - so the results are non-decisive except he gets a takedown because the other guy simply falls."

Here are some of the other top reactions on X:

"Arber Xhekaj ...is so over rated! Lowry did just fine....true captain...tough as nails," a third fan tweeted.

"Wifi doesn’t fight. He just wrestles with players that are way smaller," one X user wrote.

"Big deal. Fights in the nhl all are garbage now. Not like they used to be," another user wrote.

He can’t fight a real dude like any of 7 guys on the Bruins," another chimed in.

Arber Xhekaj's Canadiens defeat the Winnipeg Jets in a shootout

On Wednesday, the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 in overtime at Centre Bell Arena. The Habs improved their record to 14-9-3, sitting second in the Atlantic Division.

Mark Scheifele opened the scoring for the Jets, putting them ahead 1-0 at 18:35 of the first period. This was the lone goal scored in the opening frame. Juraj Slafkovský tied it 1-1 for the Canadiens on the power play at 9:59 of the second period.

Kyle Connor then made it 2-1 for the Jets at 11:53 of the second period. Oliver Kapanen tied it 2-2 for the Canadiens at 14:03 of the second period, before the goalless third period and overtime. The Montreal Canadiens ultimately emerged victorious in the shootout (3-2).

The Canadiens will face the Maple Leafs (12-11-3) on Saturday. The puck at Scotiabank Arena drops at 7 p.m. ET.