Kyle Clifford steps over Roman Polak after sending Polak to the ice. Linesman Thor Nelson protects Polak from further injury. AP Photo/Alex Gallardo

Kings and Blues Continue Playoff Battle

Two games last night featured multiple fights. On the early slate was the Tampa Bay Lightning and New Jersey Devils. Midway into the first period the Devils' Krys Barch and Bolts enforcer Pierre-Cedric Labrie dropped the mitts and engaged in a decent bought. It was the third straight game with a fight for Labrie, who fought Adam McQuaid and Deryk Engelland in his past two, respectively. Later in the match, David Clarkson and Keith Aulie went at it in what amounted to more of a wrestling match than a hockey fight.

Enter the late game: Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues. A rematch from last years playoffs with three fights in the opening frame. Barret Jackman and Colin Fraser got things started with a quick, uneventful scrap. On the ensuing faceoff, Kyle Clifford and Roman Polak went to battle, which featured Clifford scoring a highlight reel knockout as he landed a crushing right uppercut that put Polak down on and out, even as Polak connected with solid shot of his own. Five minute later, Ryan Reaves and Dwight King got into a technical match which featured more grappling than punching.

The game itself was just as exciting with the Kings coming back from three goals down and win to the delight of the home crowd. The Blues and Kings had two fights in their first match-up of the season.

Elsewhere

The Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals game featured a heavyweight battle between Shawn Thornton and John Erskine. Thornton landed a big right late and put his counterpart down on his back. Erskine bounced right back up and played his now-normal 20 minutes.

The Edmonton Oilers' Jeff Petry and Columbus Blue Jackets' Matt Calvert emerged from a scrum in the crease with gloves off and firing punches. The fight ended rather quickly as Petry got off balance and tumbled to the ice. It was Petry's first NHL fighting major.

Videos added

Ryan Reaves vs Dwight King Mar 5, 2013
Roman Polak vs Kyle Clifford Mar 5, 2013
Barret Jackman vs Colin Fraser Mar 5, 2013
Keith Aulie vs David Clarkson Mar 5, 2013
Shawn Thornton vs John Erskine Mar 5, 2013
Jeff Petry vs Matt Calvert Mar 5, 2013
Pierre-Cedric Labrie vs Krys Barch Mar 5, 2013
Pierre-Cedric Labrie vs Deryk Engelland Mar 4, 2013
Alexei Emelin vs Zdeno Chara Mar 3, 2013
Brandon Prust vs Milan Lucic Mar 3, 2013
Tom Sestito vs Brian McGrattan Mar 3, 2013
Patrick Bordeleau vs Jared Boll Mar 3, 2013
Cody McLeod vs Dalton Prout Mar 3, 2013
Chris Stewart vs Antoine Roussel Mar 3, 2013
Jordan Nolan vs Tom Sestito Mar 2, 2013
Stephen Weiss vs Justin Faulk Mar 2, 2013
Aaron Volpatti vs Anthony Peluso Mar 2, 2013
David Clarkson vs Steve Ott Mar 2, 2013
B.J. Crombeen vs Gregory Campbell Mar 2, 2013
Pierre-Cedric Labrie vs Adam McQuaid Mar 2, 2013
Kaspars Daugavins vs Zac Rinaldo Mar 2, 2013