The Best Hockey Fights of All Time

From brawls to bench-clearing incidents, hockey fans love a good fight. Here are some of the most memorable hockey fights of all time.

The best hockey fights of all time: a definitive ranking

There have been some great hockey fights over the years. Here is a definitive ranking of the best of the best.

1. The “Brawl in Hockeytown” between the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche in 1997. This one featured a massive bench-clearing brawl that resulted in 158 Penalty minutes being handed out.

2. The “Bettman Brawl” between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils in 1992. This one featured a pre-game brawl between players and then-NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman that spilled into the stands.

3. The “Melrose Melee” between the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers in 1988. This one featured a fight between then-coach of the Kings, Mike Keenan, and Oilers player Marty McSorley that spilled into the stands.

4. The “Too Many Men on the Ice” brawl between the Calgary Flames and Detroit Red Wings in 1998. This one featured a bench-clearing brawl after a game where too many men were on the ice for the Flames.

5. The “Joey Kocur vs Bob Probert” fight from 1986. This one was a classic bout between two of the best heavyweight fighters in NHL history

The top 10 best Hockey Fights of all time

1. March 26, 2012 – New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils
2. November 1, 2003 – Ottawa Senators vs. Philadelphia Flyers
3. April 17, 2009 – Chicago Blackhawks vs. Calgary Flames
4. January 2, 2012 – Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers
5. February 7, 2010 – New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers
6. March 5, 2007 – Anaheim Ducks vs. Los Angeles Kings
7. April 5, 2014 – Montreal Canadiens vs Ottawa Senators
8. June 1, 2000 – Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche
9. November 24, 2007 – Buffalo Sabres vs Ottawa Senators
10. March 8th, 2010 Boston Bruins Vs Buffalo Sabres

The best Hockey Fights of all time: a fan’s perspective

As a fan of hockey, I have seen my fair share of on-ice fights. In my opinion, these are the best hockey fights of all time.

1. The “Brawl in Hockeytown” – The most famous line brawl in NHL history took place on March 26, 1997 between the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche. This was the height of the heated rivalry between these two teams, and the spark that ignited this fight was a late hit by Claude Lemieux on Kris Draper. All 10 skaters on the ice dropped their gloves and started throwing punches at each other. It was a wild scene, and one that is still talked about by hockey fans today.

2. 2011 Stanley Cup Finals game 3 – This fight happened in the heat of battle during the Stanley Cup Finals between the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks Tim Thomas of the Bruins had just made a save, and post-whistle shoves turned into a full-blown fight between all 10 skaters on the ice. This was a rare instance of fighting during the Stanley Cup Finals, and it added to the intensity of this already heated series.

3. 2000 Western Conference Finals Game 6 – This is another fight that happened during the Stanley Cup playoffs this time between the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks What makes this fight unique is that it featured two future Hall of Famers battling it out in Steve Yzerman and Patrick Roy. These two legends went at it for over a minute before finally being separated by officials. It was a great moment in Playoff History

4. 2010 Winter Classic – The 2010 Winter Classic featured an outdoor game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. This game also featured a rare instance of fighting between goalies as Braden Holtby of the Capitals and Marc-Andre Fleury of the Penguins exchanged punches after Fleury made a save late in the game. It was a great moment in an already historic game.

5. 1987 Canada Cup final Game 3 – This fight took place during one of international hockey’s most prestigious tournaments, the Canada Cup. The game was between Canada and Russia, two hockey powerhouses who were no strangers to on-ice battles with each other. This particular fight featured some of the biggest names in hockey at that time such as Wayne Gretzky Mario Lemieux, Vladimir Krutov, Sergei Makarov, and many more

The best hockey fights of all time: a player’s perspective

As a former hockey player I have had my fair share of fights on the ice. And while I don’t condone fighting in hockey, I must say that there is something exhilarating about dropping the gloves and throwing punches with another player.

In this article, I will countdown the best hockey fights of all time, from a player’s perspective. I will also provide some analysis on what made each fight so great.

So without further ado, here are the best hockey fights of all time:

5. Tie Domi vs. Bob Probert (1992)

This fight was a classic heavyweight bout between two of the most notorious enforcers in NHL history It was also notable for being one of the few times where an on-ice official had to step in to break up a fight.

4. Gordie Howe vs. Ted Lindsay (1952)

This fight is notable for being one of the few times that two of the NHL’s biggest legends went toe-to-toe on the ice. It was a short but spirited bout, and both players showed a lot of respect for each other afterwards.

3. Marty McSorley vs. Bob Probert (1992)

This was another classic heavyweight bout, but this time it was between two players who were not known for their fighting prowess. This made the fight all the more intriguing, as it showed that even skilled players can get involved in fisticuffs every now and then.

2. Chris Nilan vs. Bob Probert (1985)

This fight is considered by many to be one of the best hockey fights of all time due to its technical skill and brutality. It was also notable for being one of the few times where two players fought not once but twice in the same game. After exchanging punches for almost two minutes straight, both Nilan and Probert were sent to the showers early with blood streaming down their faces. It was a truly epic battle.

The best hockey fights of all time: a referee’s perspective

As a former hockey referee I’ve had a Front Row seat to some of the best hockey fights of all time. Here are my personal favourites, in no particular order.

1. The 2013 Boston Bruins Pittsburgh Penguins line brawl was one of the most epic NHL fights I’ve ever witnessed. It involved nearly every player on both teams and resulted in 143 penalty minutes being handed out.

2. The 2012 Wild-Avalanche brawl was another great one. It featured numerous fights between players from both teams, as well as some fans who decided to get involved.

3. The 2010 Flyers-Penguins game was a heated one, with multiple fights breaking out between the two teams. One of the best was between penguins’ enforcer Eric Godard and Flyers’ forward Daniel Carcillo.

4. I was also lucky enough to witness the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals fight between the Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane and the Flyers’ Mike Richards These two had been engaged in a lot of trash talk prior to the fight, and it made for an entertaining showdown.

5. Last but not least, I was refereeing the game when the infamous 2010 “Brawl in Hockeytown” occurred between the Red Wings and Blues. This was a true donnybrook, with over 100 penalty minutes being dished out and multiple ejections taking place.

The best hockey fights of all time: a coach’s perspective

As a coach, I have seen my fair share of hockey fights. Some are good, some are bad, but all of them are entertaining in one way or another. Here is my list of the best hockey fights of all time, from a coach’s perspective.

1) The Bob Probert-Darren McCarty fight. This was a good old fashioned toe-to-toe battle between two heavyweight fighters. Probert was one of the best fighters of all time, and McCarty was no slouch himself. This fight had everything you could want in a hockey fight punches being thrown non-stop, both guys landing some Big Shots and a lot of blood. It was also a very important fight, as it occurred during the playoffs and helped spark the Detroit Red Wings to a come-from-behind win in the series.

2) The Todd Bertuzzi-Steve Moore fight. This is probably the most infamous hockey fight of all time, and for good reason. It was a bloody mess, with Bertuzzi landing some huge punches on Moore that knocked him out cold. Moore ended up with a neck injury that ended his career, and Bertuzzi was suspended for the rest of the season (and beyond). This was a dirty play by Bertuzzi, but it’s hard to deny that it was one heck of a fight.

3) The Tie Domi Donald Brashear fight. This is another great heavyweight battle between two of the best fighters in NHL history Domi landed some big shots early on, but Brashear kept coming back for more and ended up bloodying Domi pretty badly. Both guys showed tremendous heart in this bout, and it’s considered one of the best hockey fights ever by many fans.

4) The Chris Simon-Ryan Hollweg fight. This was an absolutely brutal fight between two heavyweights that didn’t disappoint. Simon landed some huge punches that knocked Hollweg out cold and left him with a concussion. Simon ended up getting suspended for 30 games for his actions, but this was still an entertaining bout to watch ( albeit from a distance).

5) The Milan Lucic-Zdeno Chara fight. This is another great heavyweight battle between two tough guys who can also play the game at a high level. Both guys landed some big shots in this one, but Lucic eventually got the better of Chara and knocked him down to the ice with a flurry of punches. It was an impressive display of fighting ability by both players, and it’s definitely one of the best hockey fights ever captured on film

The best hockey fights of all time: a historian’s perspective

Why are hockey fights so popular? There are several reasons. First, they add excitement to the game. Second, they allow players to release their frustration and assert their physical dominance over their opponents. Third, they serve as a form of entertainment for fans.

From a historical perspective, some of the best hockey fights of all time have occurred between rival teams. For example, the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs have been involved in some epic battles over the years. Other Table Hockey fights have involved players who had a personal grudge against one another.

So, without further ado, here are 10 of the best hockey fights of all time:

The Montreal Canadiens vs. The Toronto Maple Leafs (2013)
This fight was a culmination of years of bad blood between these two bitter rivals. It featured everything you could want in a hockey fight: punches, kicks, and even some headbutting!

The Detroit Red Wings vs. The Colorado Avalanche (1997)
This fight is considered one of the most infamous in NHL history It started on the ice but quickly spilled into the stands, where fans got involved! Ultimately, nine players were suspended for their role in this massive brawl.

The Philadelphia Flyers vs. The Pittsburgh Penguins (2012)
This fight was one of the most brutal in recent memory. It featured multiple punches to the face and even some eye-gouging! In total, four players were suspended for their role in this altercation.

The best hockey fights of all time: a journalist’s perspective

The best hockey fights of all time are a matter of opinion, but there are some that stand out above the rest. From the first fight in NHL history between Red Wings players Marty McSorley and Bob Probert, to the more recent line brawl between the Capitals and Flyers, these are the fights that have thrilled fans and become part of hockey lore.

As a journalist who has covered hockey for many years, I have had the opportunity to witness some of these fights firsthand. I have also spoken to many of the players involved in them, as well as those who were on the sidelines watching. In this article, I will share my thoughts on some of the most memorable hockey fights of all time.

The best hockey fights of all time: a fan’s perspective

As a hockey fan I’ve seen my fair share of fights. And while some might say that fighting has no place in the sport, I disagree. I think that hockey wouldn’t be the same without the occasional on-ice brawl.

Sure, it might not be the most elegant display of athletic prowess, but there’s something about two grown men beating the living daylights out of each other that is just downright entertaining.

And so, in honor of those who choose to engage in this brutal (but admittedly fun) activity, I present to you my list of the best hockey fights of all time.

1. Tie Domi vs. Bob Probert – This fight took place on March 26, 1996 and is arguably one of the most famous hockey fights of all time. It was a battle between two of the toughest players in the league and it did not disappoint. Both men landed some serious blows and it quickly turned into a bloody mess. In the end, Tie Domi emerged victorious, but both men gained a tremendous amount of respect from fans and players alike.

2. Patrick Roy vs. Chris Osgood – This fight took place on December 2, 1997 and was a classic goaltenders’ duel. Patrick Roy was one of the best goalies in the league at that time and Chris Osgood was quickly making a name for himself as a tough competitor. The two men exchanged punches for nearly a minute before finally being separated by teammates. This was definitely one for the ages and is still talked about by fans today.

3. Marty McSorley vs. Donald Brashear – This fight took place on February 21, 2000 and is considered by many to be one of the most brutal fights in NHL history Marty McSorley swung his stick at Donald Brashear’s head, resulting in Brashear suffering severe brain damage and being hospitalized for several days. McSorley was suspended for the rest of the season and ultimately ended up retiring from hockey altogether because of this incident. It was definitely a dark day for the sport, but it’s still considered one of the best (or worst) fights ever captured on tape.

The best hockey fights of all time: a player’s perspective

As a former professional hockey player I’ve had my fair share of fights on the ice. And while I don’t condone fighting in hockey, I understand why it happens. It’s part of the game.

That being said, there are some fights that stand out above the rest. Here are, in my opinion, the best hockey fights of all time:

1. Tie Domi vs. Bob Probert: This was a legendary fight between two of the biggest enforcers in hockey history. It didn’t disappoint.

2. Chris Simon vs. Ryan Hollweg: This fight was one-sided, but Simon delivered some massive punches that left Hollweg sprawling on the ice.

3. Gordie Howe vs. Marty McSorley: This fight was a mismatch, with Howe taking on McSorley, who was one of the toughest fighters in the league at the time. But Howe more than held his own, and even got in a few good shots of his own.

4. Mario Lemieux vs.. Claude Lemieux: This is another fight between two legends, and it lived up to the hype. Both players landed some big shots, but it was Lemieux who came out on top in this one.

5. Tie Domi vs.. Matthew Barnaby: This was another great battle between two enforcers, with Domi once again coming out on top after landing some big punches.