Saturday night’s Bruins/Red Wings game was an intense one, with multiple fights and a total of 14 penalty minutes doled out.
But the highlight of the game was a fight that didn’t happen, between Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask and Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard.
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With five minutes to go in the second, Red Wings player Luke Witkowski leveled David Krejci. Joakim Nordstrom didn’t like the hit and fought Witkowski.
Just two minutes later, the referees called a delayed penalty against the Bruins. Howard headed towards the bench so that a sixth attacker could come on.
Bruins forward and agitator Brad Marchand took a swipe at Howard, who retaliated. A scrum quickly broke out between the benches, with everybody on the ice joining in.
Video: @YahooSportsNHL
Rask saw that Howard was close enough to join the fray and headed over to even things out. Both goalies threw down their gloves and tried to fight, but referees intervened and kept them separated.
Rask and Howard repeatedly tried to engage but weren’t given the chance. Rask was penalized for leaving the crease and Howard for roughing.
After the game, Rask spoke with reporters. “You need to get at least one
Fight!
The last time a Capitals goalie got in a fight, it was Braden Holtby against the late Ray Emery.
Howard made 38 saves and the Red Wings beat the Bruins 4-2. Even though there wasn’t a fight, Howard got the win on the scoreboard.
Headline photo: Steve Babineau
