It seems like one of these outlandish hockey fights comes around every year. When the Stanley Cup Playoffs start up, emotions run high and fists start flying.
With less than a minute to go in Game 2 of the Tampa Bay Lightning/Detroit Red Wings series (which the Lightning now lead 2-0), Tampa Bay was up 5-2 when all hell broke loose. It started with Red Wings forward and former Tampa Bay superstar Brad Richards slashing Tampa Bay's Andrej Sustr.
Though pretty much everyone on the ice got involved, the focus clearly shifted to Detroit's Justin Abdelkader, who just absolutely gave Mike Blunden the business. Blunden lay helpless on the ice, but Abdelkader repeatedly punched him like a UFC fighter. Blunden reportedly received nine stitches:
Blunden cut on upper lip and face bruised while talking to reporters. Said he got 9 stitches. #TBLightning
These things usually don't die down easily. It's likely that Tampa Bay's tough guys will be looking for Abdelkader the next time they're on the ice.
On a related note: how crazy is it that fighting is still permitted in hockey?
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[via For The Win]
