When Ryan Reaves wanted to fight Arber Xhekaj in the first period of Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens, Xhekaj just pointed to the scoreboard.
The Canadiens defenseman was referring to the score, which, at the time, was 3-0 for Montreal. As the game went on, the score shifted with the final being 7-3 Maple Leafs. Toronto exited the Bell Centre on Saturday with yet another win and Reaves left without a fight on the ice.
Following the game, there was a lot of attention on social media about Xhekaj pointing to the score after the first period. Even Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews stood off to the side listening in on what Reaves had to say on Tuesday.
“Depending on whose perspective, but unfortunately (for the Canadiens) we rattled off seven after [pointing at the score], I guess.”
Was there karma for the Canadiens and Xhekaj after the defenseman pointed to the scoreboard?
“I guess so, yeah,” Reaves said after practice on Tuesday.
“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 one when you need one.”
“Anytime there’s a fight now, somebody needs some momentum, and if he needed momentum and asked me and I give it to him, then, I expect it back. And I would have obliged if he would have done it there. But, you want to point at the scoreboard and then get rattled off for seven, then it’s a tough look.”
Reaves hasn’t fought since he dropped the gloves with Donovan Sebrango during a pre-season game against the Ottawa Senators. His last fight in the regular season dates back to Apr. 6, 2024, when he dropped the gloves with Canadiens forward Michael Pezzetta.
Related: ‘There’s Not A Lot Of Takers’: Maple Leafs’ Head Coach Craig Berube Explains Why Ryan Reaves Hasn’t Been Involved In A Fight This Season
“I think a lot of it has been teams we’ve been playing. I said it before, we played Philly back-to-back. (Nicolas) Deslaurier was hurt. Both games that I played against New Jersey, (Kurtis) MacDermid wasn’t in. And then we play him, he’s in, I’m out,” Reaves said.
There’s just not a lot of takers out there. And when we play those teams, just they haven’t been in the lineup. And then in the last game, I thought for sure it was going to happen. And I guess not.”
The 38-year-old added that he doesn’t need much practice with fighting during a dry spell like this one. He’s been in 146 fights throughout his 906-game NHL career, so there isn’t much tuning needed.
Related: ‘I’m Sure We’ll Work On It A Little Bit More Throughout The Season’: Why Ryan Reaves Gave Philippe Myers Fighting Pointers After Maple Leafs Practice
“I mean, a lot of it’s muscle memory. I still think about my style and what I need to do in those fights, but it also depends on who I’m going against,” Reaves said. “I’ve been doing it long enough that hopefully it just stays with me.”
Reaves has two assists in 29 games with the Maple Leafs this season and has averaged 7:51 of ice time under head coach Craig Berube.
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