MSG Vault: Raucous Rangers
These man know how to fight
Posted on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 5:00 PMWhen it comes to hockey-fighting, I'm up in the front row cheering.
I've seen the best, from Lou Fontinato of the Rangers vs. Gordie Howe of the Red Wings to Bob Probert of Detroit vs. Tie Domi, right at the Garden.
When I evaluate fights and brawls, I always consider the battlers.
Among the following, I regard Tie Domi, Joe Kocur, Bob Probert and George McPhee in a four-way tie for first place.
THE FIGHTERS:
TIE DOMI
He would fight anybody and fought everybody. Totally fearless, he had one advantage; his head was as hard as two helmets welded together.
BOB PROBERT
His size alone was scary and he loved his role. For a time he was heavyweight champ of the NHL.
JOE KOCUR
His fists were like jackhammers. He was more vicious than Probert and once broke Brad Dalgarno's face with one punch. Dalgarno never was the same player after that.
GEORGE MCPHEE
The most deceptive of all, McPhee – pound for pound was the best boxer I ever saw. His one-on-one with Bob Nystrom was an all-time classic – draw!
THE FIGHTS:
TIE DOMI VS. KEN BAUMGARTNER – 2/6/91
Baumgartner mellowed later in his career; Domi never mellowed.
TIE DOMI VS. DARREN LANGDON – 1/12/98
Langdon had exceptional staying power. He'd start slow and then come on strong.
TIE DOMI VS. BOB PROBERT – 12/2/92
Irresistible Force vs. Immovable Object; Almost!
GEORGE MCPHEE VS. NEVIN MARKWART – 2/1/87
Not one of George's headliners but an interesting collision nontheless
DAVE MALONEY VS. TIGER WILLIAMS – 11/28/83
A pair of willing warriors. Williams was a Domi before Domi!
DARREN MCCARTY VS. JOEY KOCUR – 12/17/93
Both in their youthful prime; a bit rough around the edges but eager.
GEORGE MCPHEE VS. TIMO BLOMQVIST – 12/15/84
People were just discovering George. And how!
GEORGE MCPHEE VS. DAVE BROWN – 4/9/87
Brown had everything over McPhee except an edge in guts. Talk about David and Goliath.
BOB PROBERT VS. JOEY KOCUR – 12/17/93
When The Best meets The Best, it's beastly good.
BRAWLS
RANGERS VS. BRUINS – 12/23/79
The Big, Bad Bruins still were a bunch of Filthy McNastys.
RANGERS VS. FLYERS – 5/5/74
Dave Schultz at his best – or worst, depending on which side you were on.
RANGERS VS. KINGS – 1981
LA didn't have fighting jerseys, but the Kings had a couple of clouters.
RANGERS VS. MAPLE LEAFS – 4/8/71
An all-time classic that never seemed to end.
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