Aaron Downey vs Ian Laperriere

While Downey wins the fight hands down, he initiated it in a completely #$@% manner. As someone who was at the game and seated fairly close to where the fight happened Downey came up behind Lappy and initiated the fight from behind, pushing Lappy in close to the boards before he even got turned around.

I'm not saying that Lappy would have won this fight straight-up, but it would have taken a miracle for Downey to lose the fight after the manner in which it was initiated (hence the instigator and misconduct he also received).

Also, the punches after Lappy had clearly turtled and conceeded the fight were absolutely gutless. I hope that Downey tries this same garbage against one of the true heavywieghts in the league later this year and sees so many stars that he thinks they're playing old time hockey on the pond at night.

Downey is sick. only been a hockey (and wings) fan a couple years, but it doesn't take a history lesson to know that downey is just what detroit needed to back up their stars.

Win for Downey, the kid can throw with the best of them and he owned Laperriere...but I was dissapointed to read that the Wings thought the hit on Lidstrom was dirty. Nothing at all dirty about the hit, and one of the few times I have ever seen Lidstrom get caught in a position like that. Agree with whomever said it, you lay a hit on a franchise player and you expect to have to answer for it....but nothing at all dirty about it

laperriere sucks...just let mcleod fight for ya he's the real enforcer on the team

Lappi is a big p......y. He likes throwing elbows at non-fighters and then gets completely squashed by not quite the best enforcer in the league.

Aaron Downey shows the right way to get an instigator and proceeds to earn every second of his extra penalty pummeling Laperriere.

Downey sticking up for his captain, psyches up his team. Issues out a beating too...This is exactly why the NHL will always need fighting. Take away fighting in this instance and the game gets REAL ugly. No question.

and the fighting is winner from downey.
and the red wings won this fighting.

Downey dished out some ass whoopin

Cheap shot or not, you take a run at a captain and you should expect pay back. Fair fight - clean win Downey.

Hello I am new here..Must to say - nice fight for Downey!

laperriere went turttle just like another former teammate, hopefully Lap's does'nt make a career out of bad hits!

Didn't they square off again later in the game? What was the outcome? Although I wasn't "at the game" it looked to me like they were both looking at each other when the exchanges started..... give me a brake avs fans. Downey with the win.

Downey was a bit motivated for the right reasons - sticking up for an injured teammate. Granted he was fired up and instigated the fight in a way that won't please everyone here but lap**** had a second chance later in the game when he skated into Downey in front of the Redwings bench to start the fight right. Didn't seem like he was very interested.

The punches after lappy turtled were probably not "proper" but deserved after he dribbled Lid's head into the boards with his elbow.

downey looked like d mac out there beatin on a turtled aves player