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.