NHL stars Matthew Knies and Nico Hischier dropped their gloves and exchanged blows on the ice as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.
With his team down two in the third period at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, Devils captain Hischier uncharacteristically got into a fight after he was seen having tense words with Knies.
The pair grabbed one another simultaneously and began scrapping it out in chaotic fashion as their gloves came flying off, before they both went tumbling to the ground.
After getting back to their feet while continuing to grapple, two referees desperately tried to intervene and stop the madness, only for one of them to be dragged down with them.
Hischier, who is in his eighth season with New Jersey, is not typically involved in fights on the ice despite his antics on Tuesday night.
And while he doesn’t condone violence, Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe was proud of his captain for standing up for the team and showing some spirit.
NHL stars Matthew Knies and Nico Hischier dropped gloves and exchanged blows on Tuesday
The pair scrapped it out during the Toronto Maple Leafs’ win over the New Jersey Devils
‘I mean, do I want our captain fighting when we’re down two nothing in the third period? Absolutely not,’ Keefe told reporters. ‘But we do need some guys to step up to show some emotion, and show some balls, and play with some urgency and competitiveness and step out of character. Yeah, we need more of that.
‘So to that end, I like it. I like that Nico did it and hopefully it rubs off on the rest of the group in a positive way.’
Joseph Woll made 33 saves for his first shutout of the season and Bobby McMann, Nicolas Roy, Calle Jarnkrok and Matthew Knies scored as the Maple Leafs beat the Devils 4-0.
Playing their third game in four nights since the Christmas break, Toronto was without William Nylander (lower-body injury) for a second straight game, Auston Matthews (lower body), Chris Tanev (lower body) and Dakota Joshua, who remained in Detroit after sustaining a kidney injury against the Red Wings on Sunday.
McMann scored on the power play late in the first period, and Roy added a redirect goal just as another man-advantage situation expired. McMann tipped the puck to Roy. Nicholas Robertson helped set up both goals. McMann has four goals in his last six games.
Jarnkrok scored in the third period for his first goal since November 1. Knies added an empty-netter.
Woll led the Maple Leafs (18-15-6) to their third win in four games with his first shutout since Nov. 20, 2024, despite being outshot 33-30.
The goaltender, who has won three straight, was stellar late in the second period with the Devils pressing on the power play, highlighted by a stop on Jesper Bratt’s wrister.
