Marchand and Subban step into the ring

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BOSTON -- It was bound to happen sooner or later between the nose that knows, and the demonstrative defenseman that needs to act like he's been there before.The newest chapter in the BruinsCanadiens rivalry opened up Thursday nightwith Brad Marchand and P.K. Subban finally dropping the gloves multiple times, and finally engaging in an honest-to-goodness fight to end it all.

The duo has been involved in plenty of chippy play overthe last season plus, but that finally bubbled over into theextended dropped gloves session with the decision going to the smaller, scrappier Marchand. It also acted as the most exciting point in the B's 2-1 loss to the Habs at TD Garden.
It started with Marchand jumping on Subban for a few choice shots that sent each player off with matching holding penalties in the second period. Then both players went at each other coming out of the boxbefore they were separated by the refs and slapped with delay-of-game penalties. Both tone-settersthen finally got down to business by dropping their gloves, elbow pads, helmets and any other piece of hockey armor in a full hockey yard sale -- not to be confused with its skiing cousin -- before engaging in some old-fashioned hockey fisticuffs.

Both sides have been waiting for the antagonists to finally drop the gloves since Subban smoked the Bs winger with a bone-rattling body check at the Bell Centre early last season, and it all went downin a Boston defeat that sank the B's into last place. Give Marchand credit for attempting to spark his team with some emotion, but the Bruins once again eventually flatlined.

Stuff happens in a game. Emotions ran a little high, admitted Marchand, who said the fight escalated from a conversation prior to a face-off. I think it all started off the draw. He kind of gave me a little shot with his elbow and then I grabbed him and he grabbed me.

I thought he wanted to go then so I dropped my gloves. But when we were in the box he asked me to go and I said no. And then back in the second time he asked me again, and I couldnt say no. So it was nice to get it out of the way.

The bout included a series of wild, off-target Subban haymakers that Marchand was able to avoid, and a few short right-handed jabs from the Honey Badger that scored points with the suddenly frenzied crowd. Unfortunately the Bruins couldnt ride the momentum for long enough, and Raphael Diaz smothered a seemingly sure Patrice Bergeron goal into an empty netin the second that followed Marchands bout.

The MarchandSubban boutthe second career fight for the Bs trouble-maker after a bout against Andrew Coglianothe Oilers in Edmonton last seasonprobably would have been looked as more of an emotional starter had the Bruins won the game. But it did expose Subban as a hockey fighter thats going to get his clock cleaned pretty badly if he ever scraps with somebody that knows what theyre doing.It was Subban's fifth career fight at the NHL level, but he appeared like he might need to go back to the drawing board given the checks that his wordsand haughty actions can sometimes write on the ice.

Im not a very good fighter, so, I guess you could say I was going for the knockout, but it was a pretty bad attempt, said Subban, who said after the win that he would consult the video with Georges Laraque and Travis Moen to improve his fighting technique. So I dont know, Im probably better to keep my gloves on most of the time.

I know Marchand pretty well and its just a matter of us both being frustrated out there and thats how you settle your differences. I mean, we were kind of laughing about it after, we gave each other a pat on the pads, I dont think theres any true animosity between us two.

Who knows when the next bout will come for the flamboyant Subban, but its more than likely not the last time the Habs defenseman will be dropping the gloves against a Bruins team unafraid to show their dislike for him and his in-your-face game.Marchand and Subban Part II coming to a rink near you this winter and beyond.

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