The 10 Biggest Brawls in NHL History

After the brawl between the Flyers and Penguins Sunday night, I figured it would be appropriate to look throughout NHL history for the best, and biggest brawls.

Everything from Mike Milbury and the rest of the Bruins jumping into the stands, to the hit heard around the world by Claude Lemieux that sparked one of the most heated rivalries in all of sports.

Some people don't think that fighting should be allowed in hockey, but I am so glad that it is.

Number 10: Washington vs. Philadelphia, February 10, 1991

There isn't really one particular fight that lands this particular night on the list, but the stats from the game are unbelievably absurd. There were 21 fighting majors, and 302 PIM in the game.

Rumor has it that a cheap hit by Dale Hunter, who is now the head coach of the Capitals, was what led to the melee.

The MVP? I'm going to go with Al Iafrate, who had five fights throughout the game. Getting one scrap tires you out, let alone five.

The animosity between these two franchises has since died down, but Capitals and Flyers fans will remember February 10th for years to come. 

Number 9: Detroit vs. St. Louis, Apr 12, 1991

Old time hockey, eh? A lot of good fighters throughout this one, and the in-division rivalry finally took its toll. You have to respect a guy like Bob Probert, who has to be recognized as one of the best tough guys that the sport has ever seen.

The way the big fight in this one escalades happens far too often in the sport, when a third guy tries to jump in to a one-on-one fight... these things tend to happen.

Number 8: Pittsburgh vs. New York Islanders, February 11, 2011

This one was completely predictable. A week prior to this game, Max Talbot had a controversial hit on Blake Comeau, which added some fuel to the fire. Then, take into consideration the Pens backup goalie one-punching Rick DiPietro and there is even more fire.

Now, put the score at 6-0 halfway through the second period. These are the makings for brawls like this one. Trevor Gillies is one of the more questionable guys in the league who has had his share of meetings with the NHL for fines and suspensions. But there is no doubting that he is absolutely terrifying.

Eric Godard jumped off the bench to protect his goalie and that could have sparked something much, much crazier than this.

Number 7: Philadelphia vs. Ottawa, March 5, 2004

419 penalty minutes, five separate brawls, and a goalie fight. Doesn't get much better than that.

Everything started off pretty normally, the teams two enforcers, Rob Ray and Donald Brashear, got into a nice little scrap in front.

After Brashear got the better of Ray, he was jumped over the referee by some of the Senators, and then all hell broke lose.

Number 6: Colorado vs. Detroit, '98 Brawl

It is very hard to argue that the Avalanche/Red Wings rivalry of the late '90s was not one of the best rivalries in school history. The brawl of 1998 is still not the best fight between these two teams in that era, which I will address later in this countdown.

I would pay good money to have dinner with Chris Osgood and Mike Vernon and listen to the story of fighting Patrick Roy.

Number 5: Boston vs. St. Louis, September 21, 1969

There is quite the story behind this one. First off, this was a preseason game. Remember now, the year is 1969. This is back when fights started by swinging their sticks at each other (if you have seen the movie Youngblood you know what I mean).

Bruins defenseman Ted Green got into it with Wayne Maki, and after taking a stick to the head, Green suffered a fractured skull and brain damage. Upon his return, Green would wear a pioneered version of a helmet.

Although helmets weren't required until 1979, this incident was one of the things that really helped push the NHL toward wearing helmets.

Fun Fact: The last player to play in the NHL without a helmet was Craig McTavish. His final season was in 1997.

Number 4: The Good Friday Brawl, 1984

This one has a pretty unique storyline behind this one. Here's an excerpt from The New York Times on the incident:

"

"All this took place during a charged era in Quebec culture and politics, when the struggle over Quebecois separatism permeated everything, even hockey, with the Nords supposedly representing the indépendantistes and the Habs, supposedly, accommodationism."

"

Pretty crazy.

Number 3: Philadelphia vs. Montreal,

I believe this is how the story goes behind this one: Two of the players on the Canadians had a pre-game ritual where they would shoot all the pucks into the opposing net.

Doing this was risky, especially against the Broad Street Bullies.

When they went out to do this, Ed "Boxcar" Hospodar took offense, and is notarized as one of the guys that instigated this brawl before the game had even started.

Apparently Ron Hextall was in the locker room at the time this all happened—he was being restrained by coaches. They were afraid he would hurt his hand. Can't make these things up.

Number 2: Colorado vs. Detroit, '97 Brawl

I remember exactly where I was when this happened. I think a lot of people that had any connection to either city or either team does. After a hit from behind that Claude Lemieux laid on Kris Draper, it was inevitable that a brawl would ensue.

McCarty definitely got his payback, but you have to give the nudge to Roy in his scrap with Vernon.

I could watch this video for days.

Number 1: Boston vs. New York Rangers, December 23, 1979

If this incident were to happen today, I can't even imagine how the league would handle it.

A Rangers fan cut Stan Johnathon's face with a rolled up newspaper, and then the Bruins started pouring into the stands. Climbing over the plexiglass and going at it with the fans. Very Malace-at-the-Palace-esque if you will.

The video is just every aspect of crazy. I mean Mike Milbury beat a guy with his own shoe. What more could you ask for?