The fists are back.
The start of this NHL season, with a couple of noted brawls to remember, set the tone for an increase in on-ice fighting from the previous year. And while no one’s arguing that the Broad Street Bullies have been reincarnated in today’s skaters, 2017 has already featured its fair share of punch-throwers.
Here, with some help from hockeyfights.com’s riotous collection of NHL conflicts, we present five of the best hand-to-hand tussles of the new year:
Adam McQuaid vs. Matt Martin (Feb. 4)
Mike Martin, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ enforcer, retaliated for a hard check laid down by McQuaid earlier in the game. But this one goes to Boston’s right-handed slugger, hands down. Martin gets some hard hits in, but once his helmet flies off, there’s no going back. The money shot? McQuaid’s knockout punch at :58.
J.T. Brown vs. Joseph Cramarossa (Feb. 4)
A thriller from start to finish. This is about as nice as a one-on-one gets. From Cramarossa’s swinging locks of hair, thrust into the open air after his helmet is pried loose, to Brown’s takedown at the end, this Ducks-Lightning bout was a Grade-A scuffle.
Lawson Crouse vs. Chris Stewart (Jan. 19)
Crouse drops the gloves and readies himself like a true boxer, but it’s Stewart, representing the Wild with his southpaw swings, who absolutely crushes this one. Quick and fierce, this fight was all Minnesota.
Adam McQuaid vs. Derek Grant (Jan. 12)
Look who it is. McQuaid had no trouble manning up against Grant in this Bruins-Predators showdown, avoiding big blows and landing plenty of his own to drop Grant to his knees at center ice and claim an easy victory.
Tom Wilson vs. Brett Ritchie (Jan. 21)
This one starts slow, complete with Wilson almost appearing to ask Ritchie if he’s ready to fight and a near-standstill audience of teammates. But it has a feisty finish. Ritchie had to do a little facial cleanup after this one.
