Dylan McIlrath and Nic Deslauriers dropped their gloves 4:29 into the first period and had a throwback fight that seemed like it would never end.
The two heavyweight combatants traded punches for nearly a minute. Both players were bloodied in the bout, garnering loud stick taps from players and huge cheers from fans at Wells Fargo Center.
Notably, the Capitals-Flyers game kicked off the Frozen Frenzy where all 32 teams in the NHL are playing this evening.
McIlrath threw 27 total punches at Deslauriers, most of which were rights, and landed many of them. The biggest punch knocked Deslauriers’ helmet off his head. The two players traded blow for blow at the very end of the bout where they each congratulated each other when they were done politely re-arranging each other’s face.
Deslauriers sported a cut under his left cheek in the penalty box while McIlrath left the ice for repairs in the Capitals’ locker room. The former Hershey Bears captain appeared to be cut at the bridge of the nose.
The veteran defenseman would return to the bench late in the period.
“It’s great,” Spencer Carbery told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan of the fight. “It gets our whole entire bench excited. Gets the building to come alive and two absolute warriors going at it.”
Carbery also praised the three-time Calder Cup champion in the interview and highlighted his hard work behind the scenes.
“Unbelievable guy,” Carbery said. “He’s played so many years in the minors, in the National League, grinding for everything he’s got. For him to make this team, the guys love him here, he’s fit onto our team seamlessly.”
McIlrath’s big fight came after the team had him intensely read the starting lineup inside the locker room before the game.
Dylan Mc-I'M GONNA RUN THROUGH A WALL pic.twitter.com/BsVLJYLE89
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 22, 2024
