Taking in the action from his perch behind the bench, Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien called it “a fight for men.”
We call it your best bet for Fight of the Year. (Or at least the most epic preseason battle in recent memory. Recent, of course, meaning since Sunday.)
The thing that made this one stand out, though, was that it involved just two guys and four fists. No sticks or extra help or goalies.
Watch above as Julien’s charge, forward Milan Lucic, goes toe-to-toe and blow-for-blow for nearly a full minute with Washington Capitals anti-cupcake Joel Rechlicz — a man with one point and 105 penalty minutes in 26 career NHL games.
“That was a great fight. I’m sure you guys enjoyed it,” Lucic told local reporters after the Bruins’ 3-2 overtime victory. “Good to get one of those out of the way in preseason.”
Oh, yeah, remember: We’re still in freaking preseason, folks. These games mean nothing in terms of standings.
Don’t tell colourful play-by-play man Jack Edwards it didn’t mean anything. Listen to that call. Love the fun Edwards has with the Rechlicz/reckless word play.
“Awesome fight,” Zdeno Chara said on HC @ Noon Tuesday, giving Lucic’s effort a stamp of approval.
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