Brian Boyle and Chris Neil fall to the ice after a fight. Cal Sport Media via AP Images

We’ve Got a Series

A phrase said four times yesterday, all four series ended the day tied up at one game a piece. Three of those four went into overtime. The Caps and Bruins went into double overtime.

The games weren't soft affairs either. There were a total of 11 fighting majors, all coming from the Sens-Rangers game and Sharks-Blues games.

Only a couple of minutes into the Matt Carkner jumped Brian Boyle and started throwing punches quickly. Boyle never reacted by the time everyone else had joined in and the scrum was separated. Only Carkner received a fighting major. Brandon Dubinsky, the first one to join the pile, was ejected with Carkner. It wasn't a typical thrid-man in situation, where another player joined a clear altercation (fight or not), but all players were rushing in and the game misconduct given to Dubinsky seemed excessive.

Later in the period Boyle accepted a challenge from Chris Neil. They squared off and quickly fell to the ice with few punches thrown.

The Sharks and Blues took a little longer to heat up. Mid-way through the game Joe Pavelski and Kris Russell came out of a long scrum in front of the Blues' net tossing fists.

The game didn't lighten up after that and towards the end emotions ran high. Dan Boyle received a double roughing minor for throwing punches at Alex Steen with a little under a minute left in the game.

At the buzzer a meleé ensued and all players went into a corner. The first to emereged paired off were Dominic Moore and Vladimir Sobotka. Coverage wasn't hot, but it appeared Sobotka knocked Moore down easily and then held up throwing any further punches.

While the rest of the players tugged at one another Justin Braun was threw a punch at a tied-up B.J. Crombeen. Roman Polak was right behind him, grabbed Braun. The two were locked up for a few moments, but once they were loose Polak unleashed big shots on Braun, sending him to the ice.

As players were being cleared off the ice Barret Jackman and Douglas Murray still had a tight grip on each other. They threw some close, short punches before they were separated as well.

Videos added

Douglas Murray vs Barret Jackman Apr 14, 2012
Justin Braun vs Roman Polak Apr 14, 2012
Dominic Moore vs Vladimir Sobotka Apr 14, 2012
Joe Pavelski vs Kris Russell Apr 14, 2012
Matt Carkner vs Brian Boyle Apr 14, 2012
Chris Neil vs Brian Boyle Apr 14, 2012
Todd Bertuzzi vs Shea Weber Apr 13, 2012