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The All-Star break has ended and NHL games resumed last night. Amidst questions concerning fighting and its role in hockey coming from all sorts of places these days, players are continuing to drop the gloves and doing so at a post-lockout record pace. At the moment, the 2008-09 season could end up producing 785 total fights, the highest number in more than five years.

Tuesday’s slate of games saw a total of five fights. Byron Bitz picked quite the tough customer for his first NHL regular season fight in the form of Donald Brashear, who he dropped the gloves with in the third period of Bruins-Caps. David Clarkson and Chris Neil also had an entertaining dance in the final period of Devils-Sens.

Seconds after being hit from behind by Lee Stempniak, rookie Cal Clutterbuck waded his way through a big-time scrum in Leafs-Wild and ended up tangling with Ian White. Further out West, Doug Murray locked horns with Chris Stewart in Sharks-Avs and Travis Moen and Steve Goertzen fought at the start of the second period in Ducks-Yotes.

Klotz KO’d, OK’d

There was a scare this weekend when Garrett Klotz suffered a seizure after a fight with Kevin Westgarth. He was stretchered off and taken directly to a local hospital. Flyers GM Paul Holmgren quickly let it be known Klotz was ok, and Klotz was released from the hospital the next day.

The frightening scene hasn’t put off Westgarth:

“There’s an element of risk and players know the risk. I can’t control the general public. It’s great to look at the safety of players, but people have to realize the guys doing it want to be there.”

Videos added

David Clarkson vs Chris Neil Jan 27, 2009
Travis Moen vs Steve Goertzen Jan 27, 2009
Doug Murray vs Chris Stewart Jan 27, 2009
Chris Chelios vs Teemu Selanne Jan 19, 1993
Dan LaCouture vs Tie Domi Mar 14, 2006
Tie Domi vs Jay McKee Apr 16, 2006
Denis Gauthier vs Grant Marshall Apr 16, 2006
Andre Roy vs John Erskine Apr 15, 2006
Dave Scatchard vs Brendan Witt Apr 15, 2006
Keith Ballard vs Brendan Witt Apr 15, 2006

The rest of last night’s clips should be added later today.

Some reads

Rookie Byron Bitz shows fight
Hockey school sucker-punch led to a career for O’Brien
Code-breakers and nose-breakers
Hockey fighting is back in the ring
C. Lemieux’s return sparks inspiration
Bruins’ Milan Lucic ready to rough it 
On air: Coyotes’ voice Dave Strader
Regehr and Roy face penalties from Columbus game