Top 10 Best Hockey Fights of All Time

If you are a fan of the NHL, then odds are you would have witnessed some incredible fights over the years. Some of the best hockey fights of all time happened during the 70s when teams would focus more on roughing each other up rather than playing hockey. The vast quantity of fights during this decade divided hockey fans, as some felt the enforcers were taking violence too far and bringing the sport into disrepute.

Whatever you believe, there have been some truly great hockey fights over the years, with the best hockey fights coming in many shapes and sizes. Some fans enjoy the rare moments where the goalies enter the fray, skating to throw down on center ice. Others especially enjoy it when the meanest enforcers for both teams have it out to see who is tougher. Whatever type of hockey fight you enjoy, our list of the best hockey fights has everything you could hope for.

With that being said, what are the 10 best hockey fights of all time? Well, on this page, you will find a variety of exciting and iconic moments of players brawling on the ice. Some moments had it all, with heavyweights exchanging haymakers, goaltenders squaring off, and even players entering the stands to teach the fans a lesson. If you are looking for other iconic moments in hockey, then check out our list of the worst hockey players and the very best hockey players of all time.

10. Atlanta Thrashers Vs Washington Capitals 2010: Eric Boulton and John Erskine

Hockey fights come in all different shapes and sizes, but a fan favorite is when two heavyweights go at it. This fight between Eric Boulton and John Erskine certainly falls into the heavier side of the fighting spectrum, with both men weighing over 220lbs. You could say this fight was a rematch after the two squared off on the ice in 2008. This fight in 2008 was more of a coming together as Boulton hit the deck faster than a child’s first time on the ice. Whether this encounter stoked the fire in Boulton’s heart, who knows? The outcome was a hockey fight that has long served in the memory of NHL fans.

The fight took place on November 14th, 2010. Eric Boulton’s Atlanta Thrashers were up against John Erskine’s Washington Capitals during the regular season. After they played eight minutes in the second period, Boulton steams over to Erskine. The camera misses the first few exchanges, but when in frame, you can tell they are out for blood. The pair erupt over the minute-long encounter, attempting to land as hard a punch as possible in the brief window the officials allow them to brawl.

If you watch the clip above, you will see how much force each player is putting into their punch; more than the usual hockey fight. Clearly, it took little to set Boulton off during this NHL game, which must mean he went on the ice looking for revenge. However, after the referees get the men apart, it’s most likely a draw; with both players getting as good as they gave.

9. Washington Capitals Vs Philadelphia Flyers 2013: Tom Wilson and Wayne Simmonds

This fight took place during a regular-season game at the Wells Fargo Center. The Washington Capitals were at the Philadelphia Flyers on November 1, 2013. A fight between Tom Wilson and Wayne Simmonds proved to be a catalyst for a series of fights. The altercations lasted around two minutes, but they stopped the game for a significantly longer period to sort out the vast number of penalties for each side.

Looking at the penalty minutes in the second period, you could tell the game was boiling over. Zac Rinaldo and Steve Downie both received 10-minute penalties, with Downie getting 17 minutes overall. There were eight penalties issued in the second period, totaling 38 minutes. The third period’s penalties dwarfed the second with 11 penalties awarded worth 60 minutes.

The fight began with Simmonds barging a Capitals player to the ground and then shoving Wilson up against the glass. The two threw their gloves off immediately and traded blows. This inspires Ray Emery, goaltender for the Flyers, to charge down the ice to square off with Braden Holtby, the opposition goalie. The two goalies fight, with Emery absolutely smoking Holtby. Lord knows why the linesman did not break this fight up, as Holtby hit the ice multiple times. Just as you think it’s all over, several other players start swinging at each other while the officials try to separate the goalies. The result is ten or more minutes of penalties to Aaron Volpatti, Alexander Urbom, Brayden Schenn, and Emery.

8. Detroit Red Wings Vs New York Rangers 1992: Bob Probert and Tie Domi

This iconic fight took place on February 9, 1992. The Detroit Red Wings were visiting the New York Rangers in what proved to be a very rough game. This incident took place less than 10 minutes into the first period and it set the tone for the rest of the game. Overall, there were 40 penalties awarded during the game, with ten coming from this one incident alone.

Both the first and second periods had 17 penalties awarded, with the majority awarded to Red Wings players. There is little doubt that the fight was premeditated, as the two players involved were Bob Probert and Tie Domi. If you don’t know who these two are, they both have over 3300 penalty minutes from around 1000 NHL games. They also have a reputation for being an aggressive enforcer, wanting to fight as often as possible. Domi was in 16 fights in that season alone, and Probert managed 19.

The advantage was to Probert, being 6ft3 compared to the 5ft10 Domi. However, that did not stop the fight early, as both men were exchanging blows for around a minute before the officials stepped in. Domi got Probert’s jersey over his head, restricting his movement and reducing the reach advantage, making it more of an even fight than you would expect. It’s rare to see players with a height advantage come off worse on the ice, but given the fan’s support of Domi, he got one over the legendary Probert.

7. Colorado Avalanche Vs Detroit Red Wings 1997: Darren McCarty and Claude Lemieux

The Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings brawl of March 26, 1977, went down in history as Bloody Wednesday. Like many fights that take place on the ice, this brawl had a backstory from the year before. The two sides met in the 1976 Stanley Cup playoffs, which the Avalanche won. In game six of the Western Conference Finals, Claude Lemieux delivered a vicious check to the back of Kris Draper. Draper broke his jaw in several places, resulting in reconstructive surgery and his jaw being wired shut. You could tell there was bad blood between the two teams as Dino Ciccarelli, a former winger for the Red Wings, had this to say about Lemieux during an interview:

“I can’t believe I shook this guy’s friggin’ hand after the game; that pisses me right off.”

Dino Ciccarelli

The game in 1977 had already gotten off to a rocky start, with a couple of fights inside the first ten minutes of the game. The main brawl happened 18 minutes into the first period, with Peter Forsberg and Igor Larionov colliding on the ice. Darren McCarty took the opportunity and delivered a right hook to Lemieux, who hit the ice and covered the back of his head. McCarty took Lemieux to the boards and kneed him in the head. Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy saw Lemieux in trouble and skated out to help. Brendan Shanahan intercepted Roy, who clotheslined the goaltender in spectacular fashion.

The fighting ends with the two goaltenders having it out in the middle of the ice; you have to see it to believe it!

6. Colorado Avalanche Vs Detroit Red Wings 1998: Patrick Roy and Chris Osgood

Part three of the Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings feud took place on April 1, 1998. Once again, the Avalanche was at the home of the Red Wings, the Joe Louis Arena. This time, however, the fight that went down in NHL history books was between the two goalies, Patrick Roy and Chris Osgood.

One of the best hockey fights of all time is almost certainly the best goalie fight in NHL history. It took place in the third period, just over seven minutes from the end of the game. Roy had already received penalties in the first period for elbowing and unsportsmanlike conduct, but he came out of his crease to confront the Red Wings goaltender.

It’s easy to skip the fights that led up to the goalie skirmish, as watching goaltenders fight is often more exciting than any normal fight. What made this one iconic was both players squaring off and trading blows at a phenomenal rate. If we had to judge the exchange like a boxing match, you could easily give the win to Roy, who got Osgood’s jersey over his head and restricted his use of the right hand. However, Osgood has his moments too. Taking Roy onto his knee towards the end of the exchange and then finally flooring the Avalanche goaltender by the advertisement board.

5. Montreal Canadiens Vs Boston Bruins 1970: Guy Lapointe and Wayne Cashman

Hockey had a bit of a reputation in the 70s. The problem stemmed from an abundance of enforcers, and some questionable officiating led to moments of utter chaos on the ice. This match between the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins was one of those moments. The game took place on November 8, 1970, and the Canadiens were at the Bruins, their long-established rival. This fight was perhaps the most ruthless of them all, as both benches spilled onto the ice.

Originally, one player from each side threw down their gloves, which was quickly interrupted by the officials. With the officials focused on keeping two players apart, both teams fly onto the ice and start hustling and grabbing. Guy Lapointe and Wayne Cashman take the opportunity and start swinging at each other with some force before crashing onto the ice.

Some players are trying to separate the fighters, others are looking for an opportunity to land some cheap shots, and the result is carnage. When the camera zooms out, there is a medley of players and equipment all over the ice, with the officials doing almost nothing. I know hockey gets a lot of stick for allowing fights to go on, but this is exactly why. Once the officials are busy with two players, it gives the opportunist the chance to be more dangerous.

4. Los Angeles Kings Vs Philadelphia Flyers 1979: Randy Holt and Bob Kelly

The Los Angeles Kings were at the Philadelphia Flyers on March 11, 1979. The game ended 6-3 for the flyers, but it will live long in the memories of hockey fans not for the scoreline, but for the penalties. There were around 50 penalties awarded inside the first period of the game, with the first two coming after just 20 seconds of game time. Bert Wilson and Behn Wilson both picked up five for fighting, followed by a series of small penalties and ten minutes for Frank Bathe. At 14:58 in the first period, Randy Holt delivered a sucker punch to Blake Dunlop, which resulted in large penalties for Holt and Frank Bathe.

Tempers flared up once or twice during the rest of the first period, but it wasn’t until the end of the period did things boil over. Both benches emptied and swarmed onto the ice and inevitably, players would start swinging. The game broke several NHL records that night, including most penalty minutes in one game by two teams, 380. Two teams have since broken this record, one in 1981 with 406 penalty minutes and in 2004 with 419 by the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers.

If you can compare the 2004 Senators versus Flyers brawl to this Kings and Flyers brawl, you’ll notice a heap of differences. The benches never emptied onto the ice, the officials didn’t lose total control over the game, and the most vicious fighting only lasted momentarily. Whereas, in 1979, both sets of players were trying to do serious damage to each other with each punch and the officials couldn’t do anything about it.

3. Quebec Nordiques Vs Montreal Canadians 1984: Louis Sleigher and Jean Hamel

The Quebec Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens met in the second-round playoffs for the 1984 Stanley Cup. The game took place on April 20, Good Friday, and is famous for its brawl, which went down in hockey history as the Good Friday Massacre. Fights between the two sides took place over multiple periods and totaled 252 penalty minutes and 11 ejections from the game.

The rivalry between the two sides, also known as the Battle of Quebec, was a major catalyst in this brawl. Another factor that helped this brawl become one of the most uncontrolled in hockey history was the referee, Bruce Hood. His incompetence helped stoke the flames after the officials broke up the original brawl. The fight began at the end of the second period when two players started grappling by the Nordiques’ goal. Both benches spilled onto the ice in response, causing nothing short of pandemonium.

The fighting lasts several minutes, with multiple players squaring up and exchanging blows. Most of the scraps were quite soft as far as hockey fights go, with the goalies grabbing each other and players pulling each other onto the ice. That was until an official tries to separate Louis Sleigher and Jean Hamel, where Sleigher unleashes a vicious, career-ending punch to Hamels’ eye. The officials got all the players off the ice, but this is where Hood mishandled the game.

How the Officials Made Everything Worse

Hood did not officially complete the second period, as he did not inform the timekeeper and head coaches of the penalties assigned. This meant players who were ejected from the game, such as Sleigher, returned to the ice for the third-period warm-up, even though they will not be partaking. This gave the ejected players the chance to get revenge, as they will not be taking part in the game anyway, so why not settle the score?

An official failing to do their job properly has detrimental effects on any sport. Even the very best betting sites offer no compensation when unforeseeable situations, like the Good Friday Massacre, take place. Hood retired immediately after the playoffs, and it’s no wonder why. Allowing ejected players to return to the ice only to hear the stadium announcer inform the players of their ejection was a truly puzzling move. It made hockey history, but for all the wrong reasons.

2. Boston Bruins Vs New York Rangers 1979: Bruins and Rangers Fans

On December 23, 1979, the Boston Bruins were at Madison Square Garden to face the New York Rangers. The game, in which the Bruins won 4-3, was quite clean, with only one penalty worth more than two minutes at the very end of the game. There were only 14 penalties in total, making it the cleanest game on our list. However, this incident changed hockey forever in more ways than one.

There was one last chance for the Rangers to equalize seconds before the end of the game, with Phil Esposito heading for a breakaway on goal. The Bruins goaltender saved his shot and Esposito left the ice in frustration. All the other players gathered together in the center, where they exchanged a few punches. The officials moved the most unruly players towards the boards, away from the main cluster of players. However, a fan used a rolled-up program to attack Stan Jonathan from the sidelines by reaching over the glass. Jonathan had this to say about the encounter when speaking to the New York Times in 2009:

“He just reached over the glass and whacked me with it, I put my stick up to protect myself, and he just took it, and I can’t be hitting no fan with a stick, really, eh, so I just let him take it.”

Stan Jonathan

After this, the Bruins made hockey history as they climbed over the glass to exact revenge on the fans. The Bruins players assaulted several fans, with the cameras focusing on one spectator who had his shoe removed and used against him by Mike Milbury.

Shoegate

The events that happened in 1979 disgraced hockey, with lawsuits and bans on Bruins players incoming. They suspended three Bruins players, Terry O’Reilly, Peter McNab, and Mike Milbury. Speaking about the events that unfolded that night, Milbury can look back with a good sense of humor about the altercation. He said:

“I grabbed his shoe, took a little tug on it. I don’t know if I hesitated for a minute because I thought I’d be vilified for the next 30 years, but I gave him a cuff across the leg, and then I did what I thought was probably the most egregious thing of all: I threw his shoe on the ice. If you watch the tape, and I can freely throw my teammates under the bus now after 30 years, people were throwing some serious shots down below us that were obscured because everybody was focusing on the idiot highest up in the stands hitting somebody with a shoe.”

Mike Milbury

Hockey learned a valuable lesson that night, extending the glass barricades between the players and the fans. While we can’t change the past, events like players and fans fighting is a step too far from what the sport is all about. Normally, an incident like this deserves the number one spot, but there is one more event that is far more ruthless.

1. Montreal Canadiens Vs Boston Bruins 1978: Pierre Bouchard and Stan Jonathan

The best hockey fight of all time, or the worst depending on your pessimism, is one of the bloodiest fights in sports history. It does not feature both teams trading blows on the ice nor does it have players attacking fans. Yet, this fight between Pierre Bouchard and Stan Jonathan was so fierce that it tops our list. You may not agree with our decision to put this fight above all else, but it certainly falls into the category of “I would not want to be on the receiving end of that exchange”. The fight took place in game four of the 1978 Stanley Cup Final. The Bruins won the day, but the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup that year.

The fight begins with Jonathan and Bouchard coming together after the linesman signals for a foul. Bouchard pulls on the stick of Jonathan twice before the 5ft8 Canadian erupts into a fury of punches aimed at the unprotected head of Bouchard. The helmet of Jonathan nullified the 6ft2 Bouchard punches, allowing Jonathan to get close and nail his fellow countryman square in the face multiple times. The fight between the two only lasted around 15 seconds, but both players tried to throw as many hard punches as possible. Jonathan won the fight, with Bouchard collapsing to the ice spewing blood everywhere, even into the official’s face.

Was Bouchard V Jonathan the Best Hockey Fight of All Time?

There have been many hockey fights over the years, some lasting in memory while others fade. We here at Bet station hope our list was useful to either show you some glorious fights that you have not seen before or fights you may have forgotten about. This exchange between Bouchard and Jonathan is unusual, as the bigger man lost, and lost badly. The length of the altercation and the amount of blood produced is exactly why hockey needed to change from the 70s; it was too dangerous. Most hockey fans enjoy a good fight here and there, but when it gets to a point where players could do permanent damage to each other, something had to change.

Honorable Mentions

Some of the best hockey fights have a bit of everything. Heavyweights going blow for blow, goalies skating across the ice to have it out, and both benches pouring onto the ice for an almighty melee. However, our high standard for the best hockey fights meant some had to miss out. Below, you will find a list of some great hockey fights that narrowly missed out on a spot in our top ten.

• Philadelphia Flyers vs Ottawa Senators March 5, 2004
• Boston Bruins vs Minnesota North Stars 1981
• Chicago Blackhawks vs St Louis Blues 2005
• Philadelphia Flyers Vs Pittsburgh Penguins 2008
• Anaheim Ducks Vs Ottawa Senators 2006
• Dallas Stars Vs St Louis Blues 2011
• Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins 2012
• Vancouver Canucks vs Calgary Flames 2014
• Vancouver Canucks vs Chicago Blackhawks 2009
• Colorado Avalanche Vs Detroit Red Wings 1997