Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj has built a reputation as one of the NHL's most physical players, and his latest hit has fans and analysts buzzing—for all the wrong reasons.

During Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Xhekaj delivered a vicious cross-check to the back of Buffalo Sabres forward Konsta Helenius's head. The incident occurred during a chaotic sequence near the net, where Sabres' Jack Quinn appeared to score on a rebound—only for the goal to be overturned on a Montreal challenge for goalie interference.

While everyone's eyes were on the officials and the net, Helenius was skating away from the play when Xhekaj caught him with a nasty, unseen cross-check. The hit went completely unacknowledged in the moment, but video footage quickly surfaced, showing the full force of the blow.

This isn't the first time Xhekaj has made headlines for his aggressive style. In Game 3, he delivered a punch to the head of Sam Carrick. As the sixth defenseman on Montreal's depth chart, Xhekaj sees limited ice time, but when he's on the ice, his mission is clear: hit hard and often.

Some argue that physical play around the crease is just part of the game. Others see this as crossing the line. Either way, when the Canadiens return to Buffalo for Game 5, Xhekaj can expect a hostile reception from Sabres fans who haven't forgotten the hit—or the one nobody saw coming.