Rangers, Flyers combine for 6 goals, 3 fights in wild 1st period
The New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers got a little crazy Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
In the opening 20 minutes of their matinee at the World's Most Famous Arena, the Metropolitan Division rivals combined for six goals and three fights, starting with unlikely combatants Pavel Buchnevich and Shayne Gostisbehere just 15 seconds after puck drop.
The others to drop the mitts were Wayne Simmonds and Tony DeAngelo, then a heavyweight bout between Cody McLeod and Dale Weise.
👊Dale Weise vs. Cody McLeod👊 pic.twitter.com/kQkN5tEpnG
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) February 18, 2018
Kevin Hayes, Rick Nash, and Mats Zucarello scored for New York, while Andrew MacDonald, Scott Laughton, and Brandon Manning found the back of the net for Philadelphia.
BRANDON MANNING PUTS THE FLYERS ON TOP 3-2! pic.twitter.com/BzLvHrW3iZ
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) February 18, 2018
The causes of the animosity and offensive explosion are unclear, but perhaps the teams felt like getting back to their roots:
Two fights already as #Rangers host #Flyers on the 50th anniversary of their meeting in the first NHL game at Madison Square Garden.
— Elias Sports Bureau (@EliasSports) February 18, 2018
The first fight on Feb. 18, 1968: #NYR tough guy Reggie Fleming vs. PHI goaltender Doug Favell.
The Flyers ultimately won the game 7-4.