Maple Leafs’ Reaves on Canadiens’ Xhekaj: ‘I don’t like getting jumped. You want to fight? Just ask me’

Toronto Maple Leafs’ forward Ryan Reaves didn’t mince words when asked about his fight against Montreal Canadiens’ defenseman Arber Xhekaj in Wednesday night’s season opener.

“I don’t like getting jumped,” Reaves told reporters on Friday. “I don’t know if I’ve ever really jumped anybody. You want to fight? Just ask me.”

On a forecheck midway through the first period in Wednesday night’s game, Reaves laid a big hit on Canadiens’ defenseman Kaiden Guhle, which prompted the response from Xhekaj. The 22-year-old blueliner immediately dropped his gloves, and the two landed a few shots before Reaves was pushed into the net.

When asked if he wants a rematch with Xhekaj, Reaves didn’t hesitate.

“We play them two more times.”

Xhekaj told reporters on Thursday he felt the fight was good for his confidence, as he hadn’t dropped the gloves since having season-ending shoulder surgery last February.

“The guy obviously threw a couple big hits, and I just wanted to stick up for my teammates,” said Xhekaj. “Definitely proud of how I carried myself.”

The other two games the Maple Leafs and Canadiens play each other in 2023-24 will be March 9 and April 6. Both games are in Montreal.

Reaves, 36, signed a three-year contract with the Maple Leafs on July 1. In 829 career NHL games, he’s scored 59 goals and 70 assists for 129 points and 1,028 penalty minutes. He has 82 fights in his NHL career.

Last season, Reaves had five goals and 10 assists for 15 points, along with seven fighting majors.

Xhekaj, 22, in entering his second NHL season. In 2022-23, he had five goals, eight assists and 13 points in 51 games, along with 101 penalty minutes. Xhekaj has 10 fighting majors in his NHL career.