The Battle of the Hudson just does not disappoint.
When both the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers decided to put their two enforcers — Rangers forward Matt Rempe and Devils defenceman Kurtis MacDermid — on the ice to start the game, most anticipated the tension to come to a head at some point.
What actually transpired was a full-fledged, old fashioned line brawl right off the opening faceoff, with the officials doling out 18 penalties just two seconds into the game. When all was said and done, eight (!) players were ejected from the game — including MacDermid, Rempe and Rangers captain Jacob Trouba.
The bench bosses weren't immune either, as Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette and Devils interim head coach Travis Green were jawing at one another as the their teams scrapped on the ice.
Through the first 20 minutes, both teams managed to wrack up 162 PIMs, reminiscent of the infamous brawl between the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks that ended with 188 PIMs and an attempt to storm the Calgary dressing room by then-head coach John Tortorella.
Here are some of the best reactions to the fracas from around the hockey world:
COMMENTS
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