Ryan Reaves and Mathieu Oliver in ‘hockey fight of the year’ as NHL rivals swing punches before being dragged apart

HOCKEY fans successful Toronto witnessed what is being called the "fight of the year."

Toronto Maple Leafs prima Ryan Reaves traded blows with Columbus Blue Jackets rival Mathieu Olivier.

Reaves, 38, is known for being progressive successful fights during hockey games.

Olivier, 27, besides has a estimation for not shying away.

And it took little than 2 minutes of the crippled astatine Scotiabank Arena for them to beryllium dragged into a brawl.

The heavyweights swung punches astatine his rival arsenic they went astatine it for astir a minute.

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And the brace were separated by officials aft the combat ended successful a stalemate.

Fighting is simply a communal portion of National Hockey League encounters.

But it has dilatory go little predominant successful caller years.

Toronto skipper Auston Matthews was disappointed with the effect from the crowd.

He said, "Would've liked a small much vigor from the assemblage aft that.

"It was a small quiescent tonight, particularly aft 2 guys similar that spell astatine it.

"But it was a large infinitesimal for him. I thought gave america immoderate vigor connected the bench."

Columbus took vantage of the subdued ambiance to people a immense 5-1 roadworthy win.

Adam Fantilli, who grew up a 40-minute thrust from Toronto, scored his archetypal NHL chapeau trick.

He said helium had astir 70 friends and household successful attendance and footed a ample measure for their tickets.

"A batch of [my money] is gone now, truthful I’m conscionable blessed with the win,” Fantilli laughed.

“It means the satellite to beryllium capable to bash that successful beforehand of my friends and family, everybody made the travel out.

"I’m ace grateful they each came retired and I was capable to propulsion 1 disconnected there.

"I was truly lucky, they had immoderate large seats truthful I was capable to marque oculus interaction with a fewer of them aft the archetypal and 2nd period.

"So it was beauteous peculiar to beryllium capable spot their faces.”

Toronto is apical of the Atlantic Division successful the NHL's Eastern Conference.

Columbus, meanwhile, beryllium 4th successful the Metropolitan Division.