By Hockey is widely considered the most brutal sport on the planet because in the game of hockey, fighting is allowed and this is the very reason why physical altercations often take place and it can get rough and bloody.
And whether you love Hockey or not, the intense fight in the NHL always has a significant influence on the way the game is being played, squad formation, and the entire outline of the advancement of the sport for better or sometimes worse. This is the sole reason why we’re going to discuss the top 6 most brutal hockey fights from the NHL.
1. Boston Bruins vs New York Rangers- (1979)
The fight between the Bruins and Rangers may have taken 45 years back but to this very day, it still remains one of the most brutal fights in the history of the NHL.
After some weak plays, an angry Rangers fan slanted over the glass and attacked a Bruins player Stan Jonathan and in the next couple of seconds it was blood all over.
It took a pretty quick turn from there, with the aggravated Bruins players jumping to his defense, from the glass, and into the brackets. The then-Bruins defenseman Mike Milbury moved to coerce a fan to take his shoe off and hit him with it.
A total of 18 Bruins players were seen fighting in the stands alongside the fans, this was surely one unforgettable match. Following this, the players involved had to face suspensions and we were fined.
2. Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens- 1987
The game between the Boston Bruins vs. the Montreal Canadiens that took place in 1987 was one of the most talked about games of the NHL. The two players Jay Miller vs. John Kordic belonging to each of the aforementioned respective teams clashed with each other about eight times in their careers, so during the November 1987 game between the Bruins and Canadiens, there were long-lasting rivalries to be resolved.
Things escalated pretty quickly and Kordic landed some great punches in and Miller was barely keeping up. After the brawl was dispersed, Miller skated to his team’s bench and showed his middle finger and told the Bruins players that his squad would be no.1.
3. Chicago Blackhawks vs. Phoenix Coyotes- (2012)
This one tops the list in the history books of the NHL not only because of the crime but also because of the penalty.
In a playoff advancement to the final at Western Conference in 2022, Raffi Torres of the Coyotes tackled down Marian Hossa and left him helpless on the ice while Torres went at it. Minutes after the fight, Hossa was carried off from the stretcher and had to be taken to the hospital with a head injury missing out on the remainder of the match.
Following this, Torres was banned for 25 games, one of the longest bans in history at that period. For every match he missed, a sum of $20k was cut from his salary. Torres later disclosed that he received death threats from outraged Blackhawks fans.
4. Philadelphia Flyers vs Montreal Canadiens- (1987)
This incident took place post-warm session, as the players were going back to their locker rooms, Canadiens Lemieux angered Flyers fans by hitting the puck into the Canadiens empty net. This is definitely a silly way to start a fight, nevertheless, a messy fight broke out between the two teams just minutes later. With no referee to break away, the nasty fight went on for more than 10 minutes.
This was a memorable brawl that even prompted a modification in NHL lawmaking– with considerable fines being brought up to halt bench-clearing quarrels.
5. Detroit Red Wings vs Colorado Avalanche- (1996)
Back in the 90s, the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche were the two powerhouses known for their success and bitter rivalries.
During the playoffs between the Wings and Avalanche in 1996, both squads fought an intense battle in a close series. One unforgettable incident was Avalanche’s Claude Lemieux’s whack on Wings’ Kris Draper led to major facial damages and for him to spend the rest of the summer recovering, while Lemieux and his Avalanche squadmates proceeded to win the cup.
6. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders- 2011
The fight between the Penguins and Islanders that broke out in February 2011 at a playoff was very much predictable as Max Talbot had previously hit Blake Comeau, which added more gasoline to the fire. Also taking into consideration the Penguin’s backup goalie punching Rick Dipietro which added more tension in the air.
With a point at 6-0 almost through the second period, Eric Godard hopped off the bench to defend his goalie and that ignited something much nastier. Trevor Gillies, responsible for starting the fight, is widely known as one nasty player.
