Late Season Simmer

As the playoff stretch run for most teams takes place, we see the usual decline in fighting majors levied. Last nights slate of nine games only produced two fights, one from two very likely and willing combatants, and the other a fight out of necessity for a goalie being ran over. Fighting numbers, now only slightly up from last season, are likely to get closer in number over the next couple of weeks.

Two minutes into the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes game, heavyweights Deryk Engelland and Kevin Westgarth dropped the gloves and engaged in a tactical battle. Given each others fighting accolades, past and present, it's no surprise neither man was too willing to open up. That didn't stop Engelland from landing a great punch, a counter right half way into the scrap that snapped Westgarth's head back.