April 15, 2004
Playoff Brawl In Vancouver
Great sequence during the Canucks-Flames game from Vancouver. With time running down in the first period, Calgary's Stephane Yelle was backed against the Vancouver bench and trying to re-direct a breakout pass to center ice. Taking advantage, Vancouver's Martin Rucinsky plastered Yelle into the Canucks bench.
For good measure, Jarko Ruttu of the Canucks played third man in, and shoved Yelle completely over the boards. That's when it all came apart, as players paired off, with Calgary's Andrew Ference taking on Ed Jovanovski of the Canucks. Ference, proving he's got more guts than brains, took several shots at Jovanovski's head, all the while without "Jovocop" retaliating at all.
Ference eventually wised, and de-escalated the conflict to simple clutching and grabbing. Meanwhile, back along the boards, Chris Clark was doing his best to exact some revenge on Rucinsky, and was being held back by several Canucks while Rucinsky looked to be trying to twist Clark's skate off.
What a moment. Gotta love playoff hockey.
POSTSCRIPT: Alex Auld got the start in net for Vancouver after Johan Hedberg yielded four goals to Calgary in Game Four. He's stopped eight shots in the first period.
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