AHLers Markstrom and Mannino Trade Punches
On the first night of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the AHL’s Utica Comets and Binghamton Senators were stealing some headlines by having an absolute slugfest.
The farm teams for the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators were engaged in a late-season physical battle on Wednesday night. A collision in the middle of the first period led to Senators’ starting goaltender Chris Driedger leaving the game, and he was replaced by Peter Mannino.
Late in the second period, things started to escalate physically. Senators’ forward Darren Kramer tried to start a fight with Utica’s Frank Corrado, and a small scrum ensued. Corrado wanted no part in a fight, but Kramer persisted. That’s when all hell broke loose.
GOALIE FIGHT!!!! MARKSTROM VS MANNINO!!!
— Utica Comets (@UticaComets) April 16, 2015
Jacob Markstrom, the Comets’ starting goaltender, attempted to break up the fight. Mannino decided to skate the length of the ice and challenged the 6’6″ Canucks prospect to a fight.
Check out the video of the encounter below:
It was more of a ‘short tussle’ than a fight, but give Mannino (who measures in at 6’1″) credit for challenging a much bigger goaltender.
Both goalies were immediately ejected, which led to the Senators using their third goaltender of the game.
The hometown Senators were apparently more prepared than the Florida Panthers were earlier this season, because they had a third-string replacement dressed and ready to play. Scott Greenham entered the game, and actually made 15 saves, leading the Senators to a 6-5 overtime win.
Using three goaltenders is rare enough, but how often does that team go on to win the game?
Just an average night in the world of minor league hockey.
