Willing Ilya
Ilya Kovalchuk picked up his fourth fighting major last night. After battling Ian White for a good portion of the game, Kovalchuk received a roughing+charging for going after him in the second period. Later in that same period a couple of hits were exchanged and the two dropped the gloves. Not much was allowed to happen as it was broken up quickly. It was White’s first NHL fighting major. I’m not sure which player the linesmen thought they were saving. Next game is already looking more interesting with the players exchanging some words through the media:
White’s version: “I finished my check off. Clean hit. And then he took a run at me on the far blue [line]. So I followed him up the ice, I was saying something to him, and he stopped, and I wasn’t expecting that, obviously. I was protecting myself. That’s the ugly part of the game. He’ll get what’s coming to him.”
Responded Kovalchuk: “Whatever he wants to say. The score on the board, we win. We get two points [in the standings]. We’ve got three games [left] against them, so if he’s got something he wants to say, I’m always ready to answer.”
Earlier in the Leafs–Thrashers game, Jamal Mayers handled Garnet Exelby well in a short, but active scrap
In other action: Sean O’Donnell took on Dion Phaneuf after a scrum broke out in the LA–Calgary game.
Videos added
Sean O’Donnell vs Dion Phaneuf Nov 25, 2008
Ilya Kovalchuk vs Ian White Nov 25, 2008
Garnet Exelby vs Jamal Mayers Nov 25, 2008
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