Boston Globe Ban Fighting in NHL - should fighting be a game misconduct?

[LouJersey]

I had season tickets was a few years out of college and sat loge 7 row 1 above corner clock to Bruins goalies right, first and third periods

Many of those fights were infront of me. Miller seemed to fight a lot down other end in left corner

Byers got knocked out by Maley infront of me on a Saturday I think Joyce first game - Burke was in net and Brickley of all people for Devils won in OT 7-6

Burke in net

One of wildest games ever seen

Edit - found box score
March 5 1988

Joyce first game scores 2

Charleston Jack OCallahan gets 2 for Devils

Brickley from Melrose gets 2 for Devils including OT

Video of fight unreal - Byers 2 broken hands and Fred & Derek on call

New Jersey Devils vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: March 5, 1988 | Hockey-Reference.com

Get the latest box score updates on the New Jersey Devils vs. Boston Bruins game played on March 5, 1988 on Hockey-Reference.com

www.hockey-reference.com

 

[sarge88]

I had season tickets was a few years out of college and sat loge 7 row 1 above corner clock to Bruins goalies right, first and third periods

Many of those fights were infront of me. Miller seemed to fight a lot down other end in left corner

Byers got knocked out by Maley infront of me on a Saturday I think Joyce first game - Burke was in net and Brickley of all people for Devils won in OT 7-6

Burke in net

One of wildest games ever seen

Edit - found box score
March 5 1988

Joyce first game scores 2

Charleston Jack OCallahan gets 2 for Devils

Brickley from Melrose gets 2 for Devils including OT

Video of fight unreal - Byers 2 broken hands and Fred & Derek on call

That first round against Buffalo was a war! My father just got a new boss, who was a hockey fan and found out my family was as well.

He bought 15 tickets for each home game in round one and told my dad he cold bring my brother and I to all the home games in the series.

At one point in the series, Hartman or Halkidis jumped Byers or Miller off the faceoff which started a brawl and at another, Neely almost ended Lindy Ruff's life with a devastating left.

Crazy how many legit tough guys played in that series.

Neely, Byers, Miller, Plett, Shoebottom, Kluzak, Crowder

Maguire, Halkidis, Gillies, Hartman, Foligno, Krupp

Definitely a top 10 most entertaining series for me.

 

[DKH]

That first round against Buffalo was a war! My father just got a new boss, who was a hockey fan and found out my family was as well.

He bought 15 tickets for each home game in round one and told my dad he cold bring my brother and I to all the home games in the series.

At one point in the series, Hartman or Halkidis jumped Byers or Miller off the faceoff which started a brawl and at another, Neely almost ended Lindy Ruff's life with a devastating left.

Crazy how many legit tough guys played in that series.

Neely, Byers, Miller, Plett, Shoebottom, Kluzak, Crowder

Maguire, Halkidis, Gillies, Hartman, Foligno, Krupp

Definitely a top 10 most entertaining series for me.

Al, didn’t McGuire become a ref

I also remember my GF thinking he was cute and saying ‘he keeps fighting Miller he’s going to be unrecognizable’

We used to hit the Penalty Box Lounge after - sit on seats from the 1960’s with duct tape from the tears - great memories

 

[sarge88]

Al, didn’t McGuire become a ref

I also remember my GF thinking he was cute and saying ‘he keeps fighting Miller he’s going to be unrecognizable’

He might have --- that does sound familiar.

 

[trenton1]

I had season tickets was a few years out of college and sat loge 7 row 1 above corner clock to Bruins goalies right, first and third periods

Many of those fights were infront of me. Miller seemed to fight a lot down other end in left corner

Byers got knocked out by Maley infront of me on a Saturday I think Joyce first game - Burke was in net and Brickley of all people for Devils won in OT 7-6

Burke in net

One of wildest games ever seen

Edit - found box score
March 5 1988

Joyce first game scores 2

Charleston Jack OCallahan gets 2 for Devils

Brickley from Melrose gets 2 for Devils including OT

Video of fight unreal - Byers 2 broken hands and Fred & Derek on call

I was at this game as well. One of the best games. Awesome season.

 

[Chevalier du Clavier]

 

[RHR37]

This debate makes no sense to me. So you want to take fighting out to stop injuries but you are okay with people slamming into each other risking injury.

If fighting needs to be removed then so does hitting. Then we can watch a great game of shinny.

Conclusion:

-No fighting should not be removed.
-It's already a 5 minute major no need to increase.
- if you don't like it I hear there is a riveting curling match coming up.

If we are ending anything it should be fighting after a clean body check thrown.

 

[EverettMike]

This debate makes no sense to me. So you want to take fighting out to stop injuries but you are okay with people slamming into each other risking injury.

If fighting needs to be removed then so does hitting. Then we can watch a great game of shinny.

Conclusion:

-No fighting should not be removed.
-It's already a 5 minute major no need to increase.
- if you don't like it I hear there is a riveting curling match coming up.

If we are ending anything it should be fighting after a clean body check thrown.

Great news if you're confused about this: if you have some free time it has been addressed repeatedly and in-depth by many posters in this very thread.

 

[DominicT]

https://thehockeynews.com/news/qmjhl-plans-to-ban-fighting

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

Great news if you're confused about this: if you have some free time it has been addressed repeatedly and in-depth by many posters in this very thread.

 

[GordonHowe]

Speaking of fighting,

'It was our moment': Behind the Marc-Andre Fleury-Jordan Binnington fight that could've been

There was a hat trick. A match penalty. A crazy comeback, as the Wild defeated the Blues 8-5. And a goalie fight that could've been.

theathletic.com

I would pay to see Flower kick the crap out of Binnington.

 

[The Storm]

Fighting should stay but they must limit these current fights that are the result of a "clean" hit. You should not have to fight if you level a clean check on someone.

I like an occasional fight. It's entertaining!

 

[Gee Wally]

New book coming out.

 

[RoccoF14]

Fighting should stay but they must limit these current fights that are the result of a "clean" hit. You should not have to fight if you level a clean check on someone.

I like an occasional fight. It's entertaining!

Totally agree with this. Clean, hard, legal hits that lead to a fight should have an automatic Instigator Penalty applied.

I remember when Matt Dumba had his season ended, answering the bell for a clean hit he put on Backlund back in 2019. Totally unnecessary.

https://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/wild/matt-dumba-says-he-was-injured-during-fight-unsure-about-playing-again-this-season

 

[ShiftyNifty16]

Having watched and played, I believe fighting is necesary to police the game. Players will take more liberties without it.