On November 22, 2025, at the Bell Centre, Florian Xhekaj made his long-awaited NHL debut for Montreal Canadiens — and made it unforgettable. He skated on the same lineup as his older brother Arber Xhekaj, marking the first time both Albanian-heritage brothers played together in an official NHL game.

In that game against Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal won 5–2, snapping a five-game losing streak. Florian recorded his first NHL point — an assist on a goal by Josh Anderson — while also registering two shots on goal, three hits, and seven penalty minutes in 9:48 of ice time.

But that was not all: late in the third period, Florian dropped the gloves with Leafs defenseman Dakota Mermis, delivering a fiery first fight in his maiden NHL appearance. The bout electrified the crowd — and his teammates immediately flocked to the penalty box to congratulate him.

For the Xhekaj family this isn’t just a box-score stat. It’s a powerful symbol: two brothers, with Albanian roots, playing together at hockey’s highest level. Florian’s physical play — hits, fight, hard forechecks — along with that first assist, showed exactly why the Canadiens called him up. Coach Martin St. Louis had said the team needs more “sandpaper,” more grit — and on his debut, Florian delivered.