Two of the best players in the league dropped gloves on Wednesday night for a shocking fight.
During the third period between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins, Evgeni Malkin and Steven Stamkos got annoyed with each other and fought. Malkin got Stamkos with his stick, and then Stamkos retaliated with a cross-check. The two ended up fighting briefly before being broken up:
Steven Stamkos and Evgeni Malkin drop the gloves pic.twitter.com/UB07SbpMqe
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) January 31, 2019
Just how rare was the fight? According to Hockey Fights, that was Stamkos’ fifth fight and Malkin’s ninth.
Teammate Kris Letang said that Malkin is good for one fight a year, and that was it.
Letang on Malkin v Stamkos: "It happened so quick. By the time I caught up they were falling. Geno is always good for one fight a year. I guess that was it." -SK
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) January 31, 2019
Stamkos didn’t think much of the fight either, saying it was the product of them trading slashes and being annoyed with each other.
#TBLightning Steven Stamkos said fight w Malkin product of trading slashes, not trying to spark team. “I thought he gave me a little whack. I gave him one back. It’s just hockey.”
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) January 31, 2019
