Vitale and Campbell Bust the Jack-o-Meter

The best fight of the night was a double highlight. First, Joe Vitale and Gregory Campbell emerged from a scrum in front of Tim Thomas swinging back and forth with some decent rights. A great middleweight bout that had the Pittsburgh crowd going wild.

Second, it set Bruins [NESN's] play-by-play man Jack Edwards off. It's hard not to picture him standing and swinging while he's yelling his commentary. My favorite line: “it's a Northeastern Huskie who's going to look like one ugly dog.” To Edwards credit, he gave Vitale credit – and you don't always hear that.

It was only the second NHL fight for Vitale, who somehow still had his left glove on at the end of the bout.

Earlier in that game Brad Marchand slewfooted Matt Niskanen. Niskanen went back after him and the two dropped the gloves. It was a nasty slewfoot, and although Niskanen was not injured on the play, I wouldn't be surprised to see the league issue a fine. Niskanen, when he was with the Stars, is Sidney Crosby's last fight opponent.

In other action

John Erskine laid into Bracken Kearns after Kearns threw a big hit on Jeff Halpern. Jay Rosehill and Brandon Prust had a lengthy bout early on in the Leafs–Rangers game at the Garden. Kyle Chipchura and Jamal Mayers had a quick scrap in Chicago.