Top 5 Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild Fights

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Jan 30, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche left wing

Gabriel Landeskog

(92) and defenseman

Jan Hejda

(8) fight Minnesota Wild center

Kyle Brodziak

(21) in the third period at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche defeated the Wild 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

When the Colorado Avalanche host the Minnesota Wild on October 8, for opening night, we’re probably hoping to see some fights. Now, it’d be great if the fights were on the ice and not in the stands — more on that later. It’d also be great that any frustrated fights would be because Colorado was shutting out Minnesota.

A lot of sports writers have opinions about fights — negative ones. I still buy into the philosophy that fighting in hockey has a time and a place — and that time and place is whenever rivals meet. I think a full-on fist fight on the ice prevents some of the pent up ugliness that leads to true injuries.

That and $7 will get you a beer at the Pepsi Center. However, many hockey players state fighting has a place in the game.

We’re not going to argue the efficacy of fighting in this post. Instead, we’re going to celebrate the top five fights between the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild.

Next: #5

Patrick Bordeleau vs Mike Rupp

This is actually a pretty good fight between Colorado Avalanche enforcer Patrick Bordeleau and Minnesota Wild center Mike Rupp. (Bordeleau has been sent down to the San Antonio Rampage, and Mike Rupp is retired.)

This fight also shows that passions have run deep for awhile between the two teams since it took place late in the 2012-13 season.

Both of these players are big — Bordeleau at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds and Rupp at 6-foot-5, 243 pounds. They’re big hitters, too. They both land some bone jarring punches.

Bordeleau is the last man standing, so we’re going to call him the winner.

Next: #4

Mid-March Scrum

The Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild have never really liked each other. Back during the 2012-13 season, they were already going hard against each other.

Just over 30 seconds into the game, and already the play got chippy. Wild skater Tom Gilbert gave Avalanche center John Mitchell one too many jabs, and Mitchell responded. He strong-armed Gilbert and shoved him over into the Minnesota net. They continued to tangle.

Of course, Minnesota Wild skater Cal Clutterbuck tried to clutch and grab an already engaged John Mitchell.

Behind the net, Avalanche defenseman Ryan O’Byrne and Wild defenseman Justin Faulk square off. Though big boys, neither is a seasoned fighter, so the dance is a short one.

Next: #3

Cody McLeod vs Chris Stewart

This is the fight that had to happen. Colorado Avalanche energy player Cody McLeod had to drop the gloves with one-time Avalanche — and then-current Wild villain — Chris Stewart.

This fight came in the final game of the five-game series between the two teams. It was preceded by the tension-filled fourth game that culminated in Cody McLeod rushing Mikael Granlund, and Gabriel Landeskog punching Mikko Koivu.

The fight happened just 40 seconds into the game. It had been building for quite awhile, so it didn’t take long.

This is a long but mostly unexciting fight. Not that it changed either man’s fighting style, but the two are actually accounted as friends.

Next: #2

Nate Guenin vs Kyle Brodziak

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nate Guenin, for all his forearm shivers, isn’t known for being a fighter. When the Avs play the Wild, though, sometimes punches simply occur.

What I love about this fight is it all stems for a Barrie Smash. Tyson Barrie, of course, is the smallest guy on the Avalanche at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds. He’s also far more well known for his roving plays than his physicality.

He’s also known for being Matt Cooke‘s victim in Game 3 of the Avalanche-Wild playoffs of 2014.

Nonetheless, when Barrie labels the much larger Nate Prosser (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) with a clean check, the Minnesota Wild acted like Barrie was a murderous thug. The Avs’ captain, Gabriel Landeskog, had to get involved, but it was Nate Guenin who ended up dropping the gloves.

I’d like to say Guenin won, but let’s just say he held his own.

Next: #1

Cody McLeod vs Charlie Coyle

It should come as no surprise that Cody McLeod makes this list twice.

We’re not supposed to be proud of this fight. Supposedly head coach Patrick Roy shouldn’t have sent alternate captain Cody McLeod out so late in the game because he’s a known instigator. Supposedly McLeod man-handled the smallish Mikael Granlund. (It’s true he checks him, but, you know, it’s hockey.)

Cody McLeod knows how to throw fast, devastating punches, and this is what he does to Wild forward Charlie Coyle when the latter tries to inflict frontier justice.

After McLeod wins the fight — we’ve got to go with him as the victor — he looks ready to take on the whole Wild bench. I love how Wild center Kyle Brodziak makes as if he’s going to jump over the boards to take on McLeod. (But McLeod is the only instigator.)

As for the rest of what happens, let’s get to that.

Next: Honorable Mention

Honorable Mention: Gabriel Landeskog vs Mikko Koivu

As Colorado Avalanche fans, we’re not supposed to celebrate this action by our captain. Gabriel Landeskog punched Wild captain Mikko Koivu in the face. We’re supposed to hang our heads because it’s “unsportsmanlike.”

By this point, the Avalanche had lost five straight to the Minnesota Wild and were just seconds from losing a sixth game at home. Minnesota’s cloggy style of hockey had shut out Colorado for too many games. Their players had attacked ours.

We were tired of it. We wanted actual frontier justice.

Gabriel Landeskog provided that.

Our captain punching their captain in the face felt so good for Avalanche fans. It also provided the turning point in the series. The Avalanche won the fifth and final game of the series in Minnesota.

Gabriel Landeskog was fined $5,000 for that move. Coach Roy stated that, for $5,000, Landeskog “should have hit him — make it worth it at least.”

I can’t speak for Landeskog and his $5,000, but for me it was worth it — mostly because of this…

Next: Dishonorable Mention

Dishonorable Mention: Fan Fight

Let me start by saying that not one of the players in this fan fight is in the right. There are no winners in this ugly mess.

That said, this fight takes place at the Pepsi Center. It is the home of the Colorado Avalanche and Avalanche fans. Minnesota Wild fans are guests under our roofs.

It’s certainly true that hosts probably ought to welcome their guests. It’s hard to be welcoming to ill-mannered guests, though. It’s hard to be welcoming to women who taunt a drunken fan while his friend begs them to stop. It’s hard to be welcoming to a Wild fan who sucker punches an Avalanche fan in the back of the head.

Like I said, the drunken man’s actions are inexcusable. Watch the video, though — he’s surrounded by Wild fans who are taunting him and egging him on. A fan deserves better in his home arena.

Hopefully there won’t be any such shenanigans on opening night. Like I said before, if there’s going to be any fighting, let it be on the ice between the professionals.

Next: Etiquette Guide for Wild Fans

Next: Why the Avs Should be Confident Opening Night

Next: How the Avs and Wild Stack Up

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