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B’s and Bolts Show Grit

A rough and tumble first period between the Bruins and Lightning produced a pair of fights on Sunday afternoon. The first was a scrap between resident heavyweights Shawn Thornton and David Koci, which saw the two exchange a couple of punches before quickly falling to the ice.

Minutes later, veteran Gary Roberts got into his first fight this season against Mark Stuart. It was a spirited battle of the young and old as the 42-year-old Roberts, whose last prior bout came against Andy Sutton last season, was taking on someone 18 years younger than him. It was also something that Roberts had in mind due to Stuart’s actions earlier in the game:

Gary Roberts wasn’t crazy about how Boston D Mark Stuart took runs at RW Mark Recchi and C Steven Stamkos. So after the defenseman took a run at Stamkos, Roberts had enough and took on the 24-year-old, who is nearly half Roberts’ age.

“I thought it was time to stand up for my teammates and try to get a little bit of excitement in the building,” Roberts said.

In other action, Chris Stewart took on Tim Conboy in Avs–Canes and Jamal Mayers exchanged punches with Aaron Voros in Leafs–Rangers.

Videos added

Jamal Mayers vs Aaron Voros Feb 22, 2009
Mark Stuart vs Gary Roberts Feb 22, 2009
Shawn Thornton vs David Koci Feb 22, 2009
Chris Stewart vs Tim Conboy Feb 22, 2009
Matt Clackson vs Grant McNeill Feb 21, 2009
Tommy Maxwell vs Aaron Downey Feb 20, 2009

Some reads

Ovechkin, Crosby, McGuire and the Verbal Stuff
How’d Skoula get to No. 700? ‘I just play’
Blackhawks’ defense emerges as driving force
Ducks’ Murray listening to trade offers
AHL ref counts his blessings, and 50 lost lives
Islanders want fans to hurry up and wait
Walker close to return
Rangers honour a temporary Leaf

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