I think I can offer a bit of a unique opinion because I’ve grown up with sports like everyone else but never played hockey, never watched hockey, and never really gave 2 shits about hockey until the Sabres’ last season. (Yes I’m that guy…)
In most sports fighting is taboo, and when does break out it’s personal, guys are trying to hurt each other, everyone else is jumping in, and it gets ugly. While I was watching the fights last night I thought to myself “wow, that really is just part of the game.” They drop their sticks, nobody jumps in, they throw their punches, and then it’s done. No real intent to harm, more just intent to dominate and swing the momentum of the game. It seems almost like trash talking in most sports, just a mind game.
But like I said, I’m a hockey n00b so I could be way off base. It just doesn’t seem like the same thing as fights in other sports.
So yeah, I’m cool with the occasional boxing match in the middle of a hockey game. :tup: