Top 5: Hockey Brawls

     I want to do a post on my reaction to last Friday's Islander/Penguin brawl and the media firestorm that followed, I just need to find the time to do it right.  Until then here is my Top 5 Best Hockey Brawls of all time...

5. Montreal v Philadelphia May 11th 1989 www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcM2rawzAkI&feature=related
      This was one of the more memorable events from my youth.  Ron Hextal charging Chris Chelios and the brawl that followed.  Ron Hextal was one of the craziest players to ever strap on the goalie pads and this was one of his finest moments.  I also love that Patrick Roy showed how much of a wimp he was by standing on the other side of the ice yelling at Ron Hextal while he was being held back by the linesman

4.  Bruins v Rangers December 24th 1979 www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ef1YVXM9IU
     I didn't see this when it happened, I wasn't even 3 yet, but I've heard stories about it my whole life.  One of the more iconic events in hockey history.  The fight really wasn't that big on the ice, but suddenly Terry O'Reilly jumps into the stands and all hell breaks loose.  My favorite moments are Mike Millbury beating the fan with his own shoe and Bruins announcer Fred Cusak's understated comment, "This is no good for the game"

3.  Detroit v Colorado March 26th 1997 www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOCXfu_mWyY&feature=related
     I could have picked a couple between these two teams.  But this is the best as far as I'm concerned.  I was calling Claude Lemieux  "The Turtle" way back when he was playing in Montreal.  It was nice to see his tactics never changed.  Patrick Roy also shows in this one he's less of a wimp when Ron Hextal isn't on the other side of the ice.

2. Boston v Montreal November 20th 1986 www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhqUl13ltJ4
     Another classic hockey moment.  The biggest rival in hockey.  After the original brawl is over, Chris Nilan takes a swing at the Bruins bench on his way off the ice causing another brawl to start that spills into the dressing room.  Greatest moment is when Bruins coach Terry O'Reilly decides to relive his playing days and goes face to face with Mike McPhee.

1.  Montreal v Quebec April 20th 1984 www.youtube.com/watch?v=veX55rLYAgQ&feature=fvwrel
     This one happened over two periods.  The first half started at the end of the second period and came to a sudden end when Louie Slegr knocks out Jean Hamel with one of the greatest knockout punches of all time.  The fight picked up again when the two teams stepped back on the ice for the 3rd period when all the players who were kicked out of the game decided they didn't want to leave.  What makes this fight even crazier is it happened during Game 6 of the Adams Division Finals.  Rarely do you see any fighting in a playoff game forget about two periods of brawling.  It's easy to say these two teams really hated each other!