Watch: The Rangers settle business with Caps via game-opening brawl
Updated 8:57 PM;
Today 8:40 PM
The Capitals penalty box had plenty of company in the opening minutes of Wednesday s game against the Rangers. (AP/Bruce Bennett)
Facebook Share
And it wasn’t pretty.
As soon as the puck dropped, the three forwards on each team exchanged haymakers in a free-for-all brawl that had Madison Square Garden’s small crowd jumping.
The Rangers’ Kevin Rooney, Phil Di Giuseppe and Colin Blackwell squared off against Nic Dowd, Garnet Hathaway and Carl Hagelin, respectively at 00:01 of the first period.
The fight, of course, was retaliation for the goon-like tactics of Wilson, who sucker-punched Pavel Buchnevich, then dragged down star forward Artemi Panarin injuring him to boot with a pair of takedowns that included pulling his hair. Panarin will not play for the remainder of the season.
New York Rangers, Washington Capitals square off with six fights in first period as Tom Wilson controversy carries over
The Rangers and Capitals combined for 72 penalty minutes in the first 4 minutes, 14 seconds of their game Wednesday night, their first meeting since Washington forward Tom Wilson injured New York star Artemi Panarin earlier this week in the same building.
There were six separate fights to start the game at Madison Square Garden, including a line brawl one second after the opening faceoff. The Capitals defeated the Rangers, 4-2, in a game that ended up with 141 penalty minutes. I definitely think we felt the need to take matters into our own hands a bit, Rangers center Ryan Strome said. I thought it was a great response. And hats off to them for answering the bell. They knew our frustration. We solved it and played the rest of the game.
2021/04/23 09:51 Philadelphia Flyers Jakub Voracek (93) takes the puck as New York Rangers Kevin Rooney (17) defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursd. Philadelphia Flyers Jakub Voracek (93) takes the puck as New York Rangers Kevin Rooney (17) defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 22, 2021, in New York. (Elsa/Pool Photo via AP) New York Rangers K Andre Miller (79) congratulates teammate Brendan Smith (42) after Smith scored a goal in the first period against the Philadelphia. New York Rangers K Andre Miller (79) congratulates teammate Brendan Smith (42) after Smith scored a goal in the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers during an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 22, 2021, in New York. (Elsa/Pool Photo via AP)