The Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators presumably met for a hockey game Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena. However, spectators could be excused for thinking they had tickets to a boxing or UFC event instead.
Less than two minutes into the game, the Wild and Predators engaged in two on-ice brawls.
First, Nashville winger Zachary L’Heureux and Minnesota center Yakov Trenin dropped the gloves.
According to Wild’s broadcast, Trenin intended to pursue L’Heureux as they lined up for the confrontation, likely due to a previous skirmish the two had had. during their December 31 clash. The Heureux kicked to the skate by Minnesota’s Jared Spurgeon (which caused him to lose his foot), causing an injury that has sidelined him for the last eight games.
Two seconds later, Wild winger Marcus Foligno, who said L’Heureux would “have to answer” for the play on Spurgeon, confronted Predators defenseman Luke Schenn. Fueled by revenge, Foligno appeared to win the fight.
With that backstory, the Wild figured it was worth the effort to fill the penalty box.
Minnesota and Nashville had time for one more fight in the first period. Following a goal by David Jiricek to give the Wild a 1-0 lead, teammate Ryan Hartman and the Predators’ Mark Jankowski went for it during the ensuing showdown.
DO THREE FIGHTS TONIGHT IN NASHVILLE
David Jiricek scores his first goal for Minnesota… and then we have another fight immediately after the draw (Ryan Hartman vs. Mark Jankowski) pic.twitter.com/xlr3jEKO0x
– B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 19, 2025
The Wild went 3 for 3 in fights in the first six minutes of their matchup, eliminating some frustration in Nashville. However, Minnesota may have burned through all its energy demanding revenge. Once the fight was over, the Predators, third from last place in the Western Conference, could win the game.
Nashville took a 4-1 lead into the second period. Colton Sissons and Filip Forsberg each scored to give the Predators a 2-1 lead after the first period. Then Steven Stamkos and Fedor Svechkov added goals in the first two minutes of the second half.