Arber Xhekaj may have just placed Martin St-Louis and the Canadiens in a difficult situation for the rest of the series against the Buffalo Sabres.

The defenseman delivered a late punch to Sam Carrick at the end of the game at the Bell Centre on Sunday night.

And now the city of Montreal is waiting for the NHL’s decision.

A fine, a suspension, or no punishment at all?

We will probably find out later today, but several analysts believe Xhekaj is likely headed toward a suspension.

If the name on the back had been “Thompson” or “Kucherov,” would the analysis be different?

The NHL Department of Player Safety will take a serious look at Arber Xhekaj’s punch

The Department of Player Safety will take a long look at the sequence.

Carrick fell immediately after Xhekaj struck him directly in the face with his right hand.

What stands out most is Carrick’s position before the punch landed.

His arms appeared to be tied up while Xhekaj still had one free hand to throw the punch.

That is the type of sequence that usually draws more than just a warning from the league.

Xhekaj always plays on the edge.

And that edge is part of the added value he brings to the Canadiens’ blue line.

The real issue, according to analysts, is not that Xhekaj threw a punch during a heated end to the game.

It is that Carrick did not appear to be in position for a fair exchange when the punch landed.

That detail will weigh heavily in the league’s evaluation, but at the same time, Tage Thompson did exactly the same thing in Game 2 without any consequences. So nobody really knows what to expect anymore!

For Martin St-Louis, it opens the door to a major lineup headache before the next game.

Xhekaj brings a physical dimension, pressure, and a presence that no other Canadiens player can replace exactly.

A situation worth watching closely!