The NHL trade deadline has come and gone, signaling that we are truly in the last stages of the 2013 season. Have teams responded to the increased pressure and urgency by dropping the mitts? Not really. In a somewhat surprising turn of events, there weren't very many fights to judge from last week. As teams battle for just a handful of playoff spots, they're deploying their skill players as opposed to their muscle and grit.
The end result is that this might be one of the most lackluster Hockey Fights of the Week since the column debuted back in January. Let's hope as more and more teams fall out of the race that we can end the season with a couple of memorable bouts.
5. Brian McGrattan (CGY) vs. Tom Sestito (VAN) – April 6
Normally, a fight like this probably wouldn't make our list, but pickings are pretty slim this week. Here, McGrattan takes on Sestito in a fight that's incredibly lopsided. In addition to losing the fight by a large margin, Sestito also received an instigator penalty and a misconduct. Embarrassing.
4. Antoine Roussel (DAL) vs. Emerson Etem (ANH) – April 5
After watching this fight would you have guessed that it was Etem's first scrap in the NHL? Probably not. He holds himself pretty well against Roussel, but it's always disappointing to see a guy pick a fight with his visor on.
3. Ryane Clowe (NYR) vs. Deryk Engelland (PIT) – April 5
No player has benefited from the trade deadline as much as Clowe. Prior to being traded to New York, Clowe was approaching the rather unflattering milestone of being the forward that has taken the most shots without lighting the lamp in a season in NHL history. Following the trade, Clowe has two goals and two assists in four games with the Rangers. As if that wasn't enough, he also had a pretty solid fight against Pittsburgh's Engelland.
2. Tanner Glass (PIT) vs. Arron Asham (NYR) – April 3
Recently we posted an article on Glass performing an extremely classy act by paying to change fans' jerseys after he switched numbers. What happened just prior to Glass' act of kindness? He was pummeled by New York's Asham. We're not saying the two events are related, but feel free to draw your own conclusions.
1. Matt Martin (NYI) vs. Tom Kostopoulos (NJD) – April 1
Let's end this week's column with a bang. This might be one of the shortest fights you'll ever see. What this scrap lacks in length it makes up for in substance. It's terrific to see sportsmanship on display as Martin, the thrower of the punch that buckled Kostopoulos, stuck around and called over the trainer after the knockout.
Previous installments:
March 25 – March 31
March 18 – March 24
March 11 – March 17
March 4 – March 10
February 25 – March 3
February 18 – February 24
February 11 – February 17
February 4 – February 10
January 28 – February 3
January 21- January 27
A big "Thank you" to Hockey Fights, our #1 resource for hockey fight videos.
