NHL Fights: The 25 Best Brawls of the 2011-12 Regular Season

Hockey is a physical sport, and even the casual onlooker will tune into a hockey game for the occasional brawl. In the NHL this year, there was tons of physicality and a few line brawls that saw tons of uproar and blood spilled on the ice.

With the playoffs around the corner, there are going to be a few more fights down the road. Let's take a look at 25 of the best brawls from the 2011-12 season.

Zac Rinaldo vs Corey Tropp

This fight featured two players with a lot of feistiness and tenacity. The fight featured tons of flurries back and forth before Corey Tropp dropped Zac Rinaldo like a bad habit.

This was not the first time these two players engaged in fisticuffs, and it likely won't be the last time as long as both remain in the NHL. 

Adam McQuaid vs Raffi Torres

This was a brutal fight. McQuaid really wanted to fight Torres here, and the fact that he was assigned an instigator penalty is indicative of that. Once the punches started flying, McQuaid really gave Torres a good old-fashioned whooping.

Kyle Clifford vs Jay Rosehill

This was a pretty good fight. It was an evenly-matched brawl, and both Clifford and Rosehill got in some good lefts and rights. Every so often, there are fights like this that raise the level for both teams.

Everyone can agree that a one-sided fight can bring a huge momentum swing, but fights like these really increase the emotion between both teams involved.

Jody Shelley vs Darcy Hordichuck

Jody Shelly has made his living in the NHL as a heavyweight enforcer and goon. He has had many great fights throughout his career. The outcome of this fight is up for debate considering what team you root for. 

While some scored this in Shelley's favor, others felt that this was a draw. It really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, as it was a top fight of the 2011-12 season.

Mike Komisarek and Milan Lucic

Both of these men have a history with one another when it comes to dropping the gloves. In this fight, Lucic really maintained an upper hand over Komisarek. Lucic got in a majority of left and right uppercuts and set the tone. Once the bell rang, it was all Lucic.

Mike Brown vs Brad Staubitz

This fight can be considered an even draw, with a slight edge going to Brad Staubitz of the Montreal Canadiens. 

Both heavyweights scored some good lefts and rights, but overall, it was pretty close.

Jared Boll vs Brian McGrattan

Brian McGrattan really had the edge in experience, reach and size in this fight. It was pretty one-sided, and I scored this one going to McGrattan with a decisive 10 for the round.

Eric Boulton vs Shawn Thornton

This fight featured two heavyweights who appeared in tons of fights this season. There isn't much to say about this one, as Thornton, with the home-crowd advantage, got the decision in this fight.

With a few ferocious lefts and rights, Thornton represented the Bruins in battle quite well.

Micheal Haley vs Cam Janssen

This fight featured two Atlantic Division heavyweights, with Cam Janssen as the favorite heading in. However, Micheal Haley held his own in this fight. 

This fight is scored as a draw in my book, with Janssen coming close in the scorecard.

Shawn Thornton vs Jay Rosehill

 Having the home crowd behind you seems to be a huge motivator in most of these fights. Jay Rosehill sure used that to his advantage when he started unloading lefts and rights against Shawn Thornton.

This matchup featured two bitter Original Six rivals, and there certainly was no love lost between each contender.

Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins Mayhem

This is one of the few "boiler-room brawls" on the list. It featured the two participating teams from the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. This fight featured Dale Weise and Nathan Horton in a brawl, along with a few melees by the benches. 

If these teams square off in the Finals again, there could be some absolute insanity at work.

Zenon Konopka vs Mike Brown

This was a good old-fashioned fight between two Canadian rival teams. Zenon Konopka of the Ottawa Senators decisively wins this fight on enemy turf against Mike Brown of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With the Senators playoff-bound, Konopka can come in handy if someone gets out of line and takes a shot of Jason Spezza or another star Senator.

New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils Line Brawl

One fight to start the game: five minutes in the penalty box.

Two fights to start the game: ten minutes in the penalty box.

Three fights to start the game: priceless.

Cam Janssen vs Krys Barch

This was an uncharacteristic fight by Janssen. In this slideshow, Janssen has dealt a few crushing blows, but during this fight, Barch shows him who is boss. With the Devils and Panthers squaring off in round one, could these two square off again? 

Tim Gleason vs Deryk Engelland

Tim Gleason rarely drops the gloves, so when he answered the bell against Deryk Engelland, it really sent a message. When a non-fighter steps up, it should motivate the team behind him to step up their game. Engelland got in better punches, but Gleason held his own.

Ryan Reaves vs Brian McGrattan

Brian McGrattan returns to this list again and manhandles Reaves. This is what Jim Ross would call a good old-fashioned slobberknocker.

Gregory Campbell vs Joe Vitale

Whenever the Bruins and Penguins square off, things seem to get physical. In this brawl, Gregory Campbell and Joe Vitale went the distance and got some great punches off with tons of chaos going on all around the ice.

Eric Boulton vs Chris Neil

Everyone in the arena knew this was going down. Before the puck is dropped, each participant is getting ready, and then once the fight started, Chris Neil laid the smackdown on Eric Boutlon. Once the arena got into it, the Senators really got pumped up.

Arron Asham Channels His Inner CM Punk

Arron Asham pummeled the heck out of Jay Beagle, hit a knockout blow and told him to flat out "Go to sleep."

I wonder if WWE superstar CM Punk inspired Asham enough to mimic his signature taunt?

Mike Brown Owns Kris Newbury

This fight is tough to watch. AHL'er Kris Newbury really got the snot punched out of him here. Mike Brown really owned Newbury in a completely one-sided brawl. Next time Newbury cracks the NHL roster, he likely will be watching his back, as he is an easy target.

Cam Janssen vs Michael Haley (Again)

This initial fight was a lot better than the fight that occurred later on in the season. Cam Janssen lived up to his reputation and held his own in a tough heavyweight battle.

Brian McGrattan Dispatches Cam Janssen

Brian McGrattan made this list a few times because he is an accomplished pugilist. He does a great job in this battle by keeping Janssen at bay for the most part, all while throwing some tough rights.

McGrattan may be one of the league's best fighters, and that should detract some teams from throwing cheap shots towards Nashville in the playoffs.

McGrattan Brings the Pain Once Again

There needs to be a lesson learned from this slideshow. If you challenge Brian McGrattan to a fight, you will lose and you will skate to the penalty box with your head down in defeat.

McGrattan once again makes short work of an opponent by throwing some fierce shots in at close range.

Cody McCormick Defeats Tanner Glass in a 1st-Round Knockout

Cody McCormick made short work here and threw tons of flurries and jabs before finally shattering Tanner Glass. Whenever an opponent gets in his shots early and often, it doesn't bode well for his opponent.

Battle of Pennsylvania Gets Ready for the Playoffs

The Penguins and Flyers squared off in a great brawl during the team's second-to-last meeting. There were tons of players involved, and it really got the blood and juices flowing. Once the playoffs start, there will be tons of blood early and often.

Whoever gains the edge in this series will limp and crawl out of the first round.

----

Tom Urtz Jr is an NHL Featured Columnist.

For more NHL and news, updates and alerts about players: