Fight night on ice: All ten players in mass brawl from opening face-off in NHL

The NHL clash between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night started with a bang, literally, as a brawl involving all 10 players erupted from the opening face-off.

In scenes reminiscent of State of Origin’s ‘Cattledog’ days, Rangers forward Matt Rempe squared off with New Jersey’s Kurtis MacDermid as soon as the puck was dropped, with the two having history from the last time the Devils visited Madison Square Garden on March 11.

That night, Rempe refused MacDermid’s offer to fight early in the game. Later in the contest, Rempe knocked New Jersey’s Jonas Siegenthaler out of the game with a high elbow and was subsequently suspended for four games.

Four other fights broke out simultaneously as the remaining players from each side paired off and started swinging.

Rempe and MacDermid traded blows at center ice long after the other four fights had ended. Four players from each team received game misconducts two seconds into the game.

Along with Rempe, New York defencemen Jacob Trouba and K’Andre Miller and forward Barclay Goodrow were ejected from the game. New Jersey defencemen Kevin Bahl and John Marino, and forwards Chris Tierney and MacDermid also received early exits.

Miller fought Marino, Trouba battled Tierney, Goodrow went against Bahl and Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey fought New Jersey’s Curtis Lazar. Vesey and Lazar remained in the game since they fought first and didn’t receive additional punishment.

All 10 players also received five-minute fighting penalties.