Fighting in the NHL has declined dramatically in recent seasons.
According to statistics on hockeyfights.com, only 18.9% of games this season have had a fighting major on the scoresheet. In 2017-18, 17.9% of games had fights.
Compare that to five seasons ago (2013-14) when 29.8% of NHL games had fights, or 10 seasons ago (2008-09) when it was at 41.4%. With the All-Star break two weeks away, Ottawa’s Ben Harpur leads the league with five fights.
But if you are thinking that fighting in the NHL is becoming extinct, you may want to look at last night’s Ryan Reaves vs. Adam McQuaid fight.
One commenter under the YouTube video of the battle referred to it as “Mayweather vs. McGregor of the NHL.”
More columns: Read commentary from columnist Kevin Allen
The bout had more intense punches, over a shorter span, than you usually see. Neither player backed down, although Reaves overwhelmed McQuaid with a flurry of punches in the end.
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