The Five Biggest Hockey Brawls Ever

By Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer Updated: 06 September 2023

Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer

Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.

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• What Is the Biggest NHL Brawl?
• The Biggest NHL Fight Ever: Washington vs Philadelphia
• Detroit vs. Colorado: A Night to Remember
• Pittsburgh vs. New York Islanders: Showdown
• Philadelphia vs. Ottawa: Penalty Marathon
• The Infamous Good Friday Massacre
• Frequently Asked Questions

The NHL is known for its high-intensity games, where the passion of the players often spills over into physical fights. These fights, or brawls, have become an integral part of the sport’s history, marking some of the most memorable moments in the NHL.

While some argue against the place of fighting in hockey, there’s no denying the raw emotion and drama it brings to the game. In today’s blog, we’ll show you some of the biggest hockey brawls in history!

What Is the Biggest NHL Brawl?

The NHL has seen its fair share of brawls, each with its unique backstory and impact on the sport. The brawls range from team rivalries that have escalated into full-blown fights to controversial hits that have sparked off-the-charts penalty minutes. What’s the biggest NHL fight ever? That’s a question we’re going to try to answer today.

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The Biggest NHL Fight Ever: Washington vs Philadelphia

The biggest NHL fight ever is a subjective topic, and it’s likely no two readers will agree on the actual biggest event. However, one pretty notable contender for the title of biggest NHL brawl is when the Washington vs. Philadelphia brawl erupted in 1991. It’s gone down in NHL history for its intensity and the staggering number of penalties.

The game was marked by an intense rivalry between the two teams, which was further fueled by a controversial hit by Dale Hunter, who later became the head coach of the Capitals. This hit was the spark that ignited the fire, leading to a brawl that would leave fans and players in disbelief.

Within moments, tensions escalated into an all-out brawl involving several players from both teams. Fists flew as players discarded their gloves, engaging in bare-knuckle combat on the ice. Officials struggled to regain control of the situation, attempting to separate the combatants and restore order. The chaos also spilled over onto the benches, with coaches and staff attempting to calm the situation and prevent further escalation.

The fight lasted for several minutes, leading to multiple ejections and penalties awarded against various players. The referees imposed a staggering 302 penalty minutes, including game misconducts, for participating in the brawl. The Capitals’ bench incurred the bulk of the penalties, and it had a lasting impact on both teams.

While tensions have since simmered down, 1991 remains a notable year for both teams – and there’s no doubt it went down as the greatest hockey fight of all time for many.

Detroit vs Colorado: A Night to Remember

The Colorado Avalanche–Detroit Red Wings brawl, also known as Fight Night at the Joe, was a highly notable and aggression-filled fight that took place on March 26, 1997, during an NHL game between Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

The rivalry between the Avalanche and Red Wings had been intensifying for a long time, and on the day of the game, tensions were running high. These tensions were fueled by Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman, who used Claude Lemieux’s previous hit on Kris Draper and his lack of remorse as motivation for his team. The Detroit News even printed a “wanted” poster of Lemieux, comparing him to a carjacker and calling for revenge.

The first period set the stage for the chaos that would later ensue. It all started with a heated altercation between Avalanche’s Brent Severyn and Red Wings’ Jamie Pushor at 4:45. Soon after, Kirk Maltby and Rene Corbet engaged in a fight, with Maltby delivering a powerful punch.

However, the major brawl erupted at the 18:22 mark, triggered by a collision between Avalanche’s Peter Forsberg and Red Wings’ Igor Larionov. Seeking revenge for a previous hit, Darren McCarty pummeled Claude Lemieux, knocking him down and continuing the assault on the ice, even kneeing him in the head before officials intervened.

In the middle of the chaos, Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy rushed to defend his teammate, only to be stopped by Brendan Shanahan, who dealt a WWE-worthy clothesline to Roy. Meanwhile, Red Wings goaltender Mike Vernon engaged in a fight with Roy. The first period concluded with a lot of penalties, leaving the ice splattered with blood, and Roy sustaining a profusely bleeding cut to his forehead.

The second period saw five additional fights, including confrontations between Shanahan and Adam Foote, simultaneous fights involving Mike Keane, Tomas Holmstrom, Severyn, and Aaron Ward, McCarty and Adam Deadmarsh (with a roughing penalty), and Pushor and Uwe Krupp.

Ultimately, the game ended with a tied score of 5-5, and in overtime, McCarty scored the winning goal against Roy a mere 39 seconds into the extra period. It’s definitely one of the best hockey fights of all time, and many fans will remember it fondly – as it was hugely entertaining for viewers!

Pittsburgh vs. New York Islanders: Showdown

The brawl between Pittsburgh and the New York Islanders on February 11, 2011, was a predictable outcome of a series of events that had been brewing for some time. Nine days prior to the brawl-filled game, Penguins forward Maxime Talbot delivered a controversial hit on the Islanders’ Blake Comeau, resulting in a concussion for Comeau. Later in that game, Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro shoved Penguins forward Matt Cooke, leading to a fight between DiPietro and Penguins goaltender Brent Johnson.

On February 11, 2011, the game started with a flurry of penalties, and physical play escalated early on. The Islanders took a 4-0 lead by the end of the first period, and they extended it to 6-0 early in the second period. Then came the first fight, with Talbot being targeted by Islanders players. Matt Martin started the first fight with Talbot, leading to a succession of later brawls involving players from both teams.

As the game progressed, another fight erupted in the third period. Trevor Gillies delivered a dangerous elbow to Penguins forward Eric Tangradi, followed by a pummeling assault on Tangradi while he was down on the ice. Gillies received multiple penalties and was ejected from the game. Haley fought Talbot, and Johnson joined the fight to protect his teammate. Numerous penalties and ejections were handed out during the game, which ended in a 9-3 victory for the Islanders.

The day after the game, the NHL handed out suspensions and fines. Gillies received a nine-game suspension, Martin was suspended for four games, and Godard received an automatic ten-game suspension for leaving the bench to join a fight. The Islanders organization was also fined $100,000 for failing to control their players.

Philadelphia vs. Ottawa: Penalty Marathon

The Philadelphia Flyers vs. Ottawa Senators brawl on March 5, 2004, was a hugely memorable event for fans – and for many, it’s one of the biggest hockey brawls ever captured on camera. The game was marked by a staggering 419 penalty minutes, five separate brawls, and a goalie fight. It was a game that completely shook fans and organizers, and it was responsible for a new NHL rule that means any player fighting in the last five minutes of a match gets an instant one-game suspension.

When the game began, things seemed calm. The first period saw Ottawa’s Chris Neil scoring first, followed by two quick goals from the Flyers’ Claude Lapointe and Mark Recchi. Philadelphia extended their lead with another goal from Danny Markov. The only penalty in the period was against Philadelphia’s Tony Amonte.

Both teams scored a goal each in the second and third periods. The intensity grew in the third period, with several players engaging in fights and receiving penalties. Philadelphia’s Donald Brashear instigated a fight with Ottawa’s Rob Ray, apparently because of a previous altercation they’d had. Ray was left bleeding, and then, all hell broke loose, with players from both teams starting to fight.

Goaltenders Patrick Lalime and Robert Esche even fought each other. The game was temporarily halted, and when play resumed, again, more fights broke out. The game finally ended in a 5-3 victory for the Flyers. The commotion received global news coverage, and, as mentioned, prompted the NHL to bring in new rules and punishments for fighting.

The Infamous Good Friday Massacre

The Good Friday Massacre refers to an infamous NHL game that took place on April 20, 1984, between the Montreal Canadiens and the Quebec Nordiques. The rivalry between these two teams was intense, fueled by the regional and cultural tensions between Montreal and Quebec City. The game, played during the playoffs, turned into a violent affair that ended up going down in hockey history.

From the start, the atmosphere was very emotional. It didn’t take long for things to escalate, and it all came to a head in the second period when a bench-clearing brawl erupted. The game descended into chaos as fights broke out all over the ice. Players left their benches and started to pair up in fist fights all over the ice.

The game’s officials did their best to try and regain control, but were unable to – and, at this point, the crowd, who were now enjoying perhaps the biggest NHL brawl ever unfolding in front of them, spurred their teams on. Many say it was the result of a lot of built-up tension that would have happened inevitably.

In the end, the game saw a total of 252 penalty minutes, at the time setting a record for the most penalty minutes in a single NHL game. The Canadiens managed the win with a score of 5-3, but the true winners were arguably the fans who witnessed this unforgettable event! Here’s a breakdown of the penalties received in the first quarter alone – the second would be even spicier, before things calmed down: