Big Phil
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2003
- 31,703
- 4,146
They dont neccessarily have to be bench clearing brawls, but they seem to be the most memorable. But here are some of my personal favourites off the top of my head.
1986 Habs vs. Bruins - It doesnt start out that bad. First off, Chelios and Nilan are on the ice for the Habs and Jay Miller is out for the Bruins. There are a few scuffles and then Nilan goes after Bouttelire which makes Miller go nuts. he has to be restrained by linesman Kevin Collins. Then the dust settles and it appears Nilan is being thrown out of the game. He goes past the Bruins bench which is towards the dressing rooms and who does he pass on the Bruins bench? Ken Linesman! Words are exchanged and Nilan punches him and Linesman spears him and they start fighting down the runaway. Along comes over the Habs bench and my favourite part of that brawl is then Bruins coach Terry O'Reilly holding back I think it was Mike McPhee of the Habs form going into the runaway. O'Reilly looked so intense you knew he wishes he was in there. Geoff Courtnall, Sergio Momesso were all in on the runaway brawl too and you never see Nilan and Linesman after that. A classic.
1980 Isles vs. Bruins - This was in 1980. I dont know if this was a playoff game but I think it was as the Isles had Goring at the time. It starts rather innocently as well, at the end of the period Duane Sutter and Milbury jossle in the corner just as the buzzer goes, Milbury gives him a shot and since the benches are clearing anyways for the end of the perios hell breaks loose. Al Secord whales on an Isles players on the ice near the bench, Stan Jonathan fights Lorimer, Cashman fights Gary Howatt, all four goalies are basically grabbing each other holding on. Cheevers and Smith were two of the goalies, too bad they didnt go at it eh? Then near the end Gary Howatt looks to track down Cashman again and gives him a sucker punch. Howatt regrets doing that as Cash makes him pay! Beauty brawl form two of the toughest teams ever!
1979 Bruins vs. Rangers - You gotta love this one. O'Reilly, Milbury and I cant remember the other ones, go into the crowd at MSG and the highlight is Milbury beating a fan with his shoe. We all know this one, and I never get sick of it.
1997 Avs vs. Red Wings - Believe it or not Larionov starts the fight by tackling Forsberg, then McCarty whales on Lemieux as to which Lemieux turtles. The best part is Roy coming from one end of the ice and Shanahan just basically drop kicking him (with his hands). Love that part. Foote is in on it. Then the goalie fight Roy vs. Vernon and Vernon clearly wins it. Lemieux, Roy and Forsberg are bloodied on the ice and the Wings end up winning that regular season game in OT and then win the Cup.
1987 Canada vs. CSSR - The Piestany punch up as its called. Even Theo Fleury never denied he may have instigated the brawl. But it starts out as just the players on the ice as fighting then the Russians, knowing they were eliminated from the Gold medal and Canada wasnt, empty their bench first (yes they were first) and of course Canada does the same. The refs leave the ice, the lights go off in the building but it takes 5 or 6 minutes before the calm is stored. Hey I dont care that the Russians started the bench clearing brawl, either way it was a classic!
1986 Habs vs. Bruins - It doesnt start out that bad. First off, Chelios and Nilan are on the ice for the Habs and Jay Miller is out for the Bruins. There are a few scuffles and then Nilan goes after Bouttelire which makes Miller go nuts. he has to be restrained by linesman Kevin Collins. Then the dust settles and it appears Nilan is being thrown out of the game. He goes past the Bruins bench which is towards the dressing rooms and who does he pass on the Bruins bench? Ken Linesman! Words are exchanged and Nilan punches him and Linesman spears him and they start fighting down the runaway. Along comes over the Habs bench and my favourite part of that brawl is then Bruins coach Terry O'Reilly holding back I think it was Mike McPhee of the Habs form going into the runaway. O'Reilly looked so intense you knew he wishes he was in there. Geoff Courtnall, Sergio Momesso were all in on the runaway brawl too and you never see Nilan and Linesman after that. A classic.
1980 Isles vs. Bruins - This was in 1980. I dont know if this was a playoff game but I think it was as the Isles had Goring at the time. It starts rather innocently as well, at the end of the period Duane Sutter and Milbury jossle in the corner just as the buzzer goes, Milbury gives him a shot and since the benches are clearing anyways for the end of the perios hell breaks loose. Al Secord whales on an Isles players on the ice near the bench, Stan Jonathan fights Lorimer, Cashman fights Gary Howatt, all four goalies are basically grabbing each other holding on. Cheevers and Smith were two of the goalies, too bad they didnt go at it eh? Then near the end Gary Howatt looks to track down Cashman again and gives him a sucker punch. Howatt regrets doing that as Cash makes him pay! Beauty brawl form two of the toughest teams ever!
1979 Bruins vs. Rangers - You gotta love this one. O'Reilly, Milbury and I cant remember the other ones, go into the crowd at MSG and the highlight is Milbury beating a fan with his shoe. We all know this one, and I never get sick of it.
1997 Avs vs. Red Wings - Believe it or not Larionov starts the fight by tackling Forsberg, then McCarty whales on Lemieux as to which Lemieux turtles. The best part is Roy coming from one end of the ice and Shanahan just basically drop kicking him (with his hands). Love that part. Foote is in on it. Then the goalie fight Roy vs. Vernon and Vernon clearly wins it. Lemieux, Roy and Forsberg are bloodied on the ice and the Wings end up winning that regular season game in OT and then win the Cup.
1987 Canada vs. CSSR - The Piestany punch up as its called. Even Theo Fleury never denied he may have instigated the brawl. But it starts out as just the players on the ice as fighting then the Russians, knowing they were eliminated from the Gold medal and Canada wasnt, empty their bench first (yes they were first) and of course Canada does the same. The refs leave the ice, the lights go off in the building but it takes 5 or 6 minutes before the calm is stored. Hey I dont care that the Russians started the bench clearing brawl, either way it was a classic!
...thanks
