Bruins’ Nikita Zadorov Follows His Own Rules in Fight with Maple Leafs
Nikita Zadorov’s hit on Scott Laughton triggered a fight during the game in Toronto. Zadorov stuck to the unwritten rules he had previously emphasized after a similar incident against Buffalo.
Zadorov’s Response to Challenge
After Buffalo’s Jordan Greenway declined to fight Zadorov following a hit that injured Elias Lindholm, Zadorov reacted differently this time. In the second period, his check knocked Scott Laughton off his feet and forced him out of the game. When Bobby McMann then challenged him, Zadorov accepted the fight.
The Fight Details
- The bout involved wrestling and grappling between the players.
- McMann, who is shorter by five inches and has less reach, landed some glancing right hands on the back of Zadorov’s helmet.
- Zadorov connected with a few short uppercuts.
- Neither suffered significant damage by the end of the fight.
“Neither player was much worse for the wear as they headed to the penalty box for 5 minutes.”
Both players served five-minute penalties after the fight.
Summary: Nikita Zadorov upheld his personal code by responding to a Maple Leafs player’s challenge, engaging in a brief but intense fight that ended with minimal injury and penalties for both.