The New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils farm teams, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Albany Devils, decided to brawl it up on Saturday.
By Robby Sabo
Slapshot, anybody?
If you’re a hockey fan, you know exactly what I’m referring to. Slapshot, the movie that saw Paul Newman and the Hansen Brothers prancing around the ice in a rough and tumble fashion, has often been considered the inspiration behind any hockey brawl.
For the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Albany Devils, the farm teams for the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils (of course), Slapshot could have been their inspiration on Saturday.
The footage above shows an all-out complete line brawl between the two clubs on Saturday.
According to the Sound Tigers official website, tempers got heated when Albany looked to get even late in the second period for a previous hit that was not penalized.
Even the coaches got involved:
Coaches Eric Boguniecki and Rick Kowalsky are both ejected from the game. Lots more penalties to be announced…
— Bridgeport Sound Tigers (@TheSoundTigers) April 16, 2016
With just 24.7 seconds to go in the period, the officials decided to begin intermission immediately. Both teams finished the second period prior to the third.
Another line brawl with 24.7 seconds left in the second period #BRIvsALB
— Bridgeport Sound Tigers (@TheSoundTigers) April 16, 2016
Another one broke out later on in the game. The total amount of penalties were, of course, outrageous:
This is still an in progress report but: pic.twitter.com/SHmRgolPjg
— Albany Devils (@AlbanyDevils) April 16, 2016
Thompson, Pietila and Kelly ejected for Albany Wotherspoon and Johnston for BRI #UnitedInRed
— Albany Devils (@AlbanyDevils) April 16, 2016
There is still a possibility that these two squads can meet in the playoffs. And far as the Devils organization is concerned, at least they’ll have their farm team experiencing tournament time in 2016.
