I don't know the stats but it seems as if fighting is down with all of the offense this year. Welcome to Euro-hockey! Anyway - I got juiced seeing a nice one last night in the Devils/Leafs game. Rookie Cam Janssen nudges Sundin by the boards and Darcy Tucker skates in and squares off. He starts off by nailing Janssen with his own helmet and cuts his cheek. Janssen looks p!ssed and waits a while (while waving off the refs) to let Tucker tire and then throws a few hard rights that connect. They jaw at each other going to the box (Tucker mockingly wiping blood from his face...nice touch!) and Tucker gets a match penalty for using the helmet. Janssen with the edge in a nice scrap.
But Ray doesn't miss Twister! I saw one stat that fighting majors are down by almost 50% this yr. That's not hockey.
I don't mind fighting, but I wouldn't cry if it were abolished. That said, there are few things funnier than being a penalty box attendant right after two guys just fought and still want a piece of each other.
How about that Flyers/Sens game in Philly last season? Most penalty mins in a game. Everyone just dropping the gloves and squaring off. Even the goalies got in the mix. Heavyweight matchup: Donald Brashear vs. Rob Ray.