With less than a minute to play and the Lightning ahead by three goals, the Red Wings had two choices — allow the clock to run out, lick their wounds and head home down 2-0 in the series or unleash every drop of rage and frustration in an all-out brawl designed to set the tone for Game 3.
This is hockey. Of course the Red Wings chose option two.
It starts in front of the Lightning net when Brad Richards slashes the stick out of the hands of Andrej Sustr. It sets off a powder keg which includes Mike Green jumping onto the back of Cedric Paquette and Justin Abdelkader wailing on anything in a blue jersey.
Abdelkader busted up Mike Blunden during the on-ice scuffle and left him a bloody mess.
When the dust settled, 14 players (eight Red Wings, six Lightning) were assessed 93 penalty minutes, which left the Lightning with a five-minute power play.
Instead of trying to score another goal, the Lightning chose to troll the Red Wings by playing keepaway in their half of the ice until the clock ran out.
The Lightning lead the series 2-0. Game 3 is in Detroit on Sunday.
