Roope Hintz's first NHL fight leaves Nathan MacKinnon bloodied - but Avalanche get the last laugh
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Nathan MacKinnon and Roope Hintz dropped the gloves Tuesday in Dallas, and MacKinnon left bloodied before the Avalanche beat the Stars 3-2.
Roope Hintz had never fought in the NHL until Tuesday night, and he picked quite the opponent.
The Dallas Stars center traded punches with Nathan MacKinnon in the second period at American Airlines Center, and the Colorado Avalanche still walked out with a 3-2 win.
How the fight played out
The two centers had been tangling for about 25 minutes before the gloves came off.
MacKinnon delivered cross-checks, Hintz took a swipe back, and then they went at it.
Hintz landed several clean shots, including one on MacKinnon's nose, and the Avalanche star headed to the locker room bleeding for repairs.
He was off the bench for more than seven minutes of the period.
The Dallas crowd roared as he left.
Colorado also played more than five minutes of the period with just nine forwards because Svechkov was in the penalty box.
MacKinnon gets the last laugh
MacKinnon returned and finished with two assists, giving him 12 points through six games.
Martin Necas scored twice and Artturi Lehkonen added the other goal, while Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 24 shots.
Tyler Seguin and Hintz scored for Dallas, and Hintz's goal was his second of the season.
Seguin liked seeing that edge from his teammate, though he doesn't want Hintz making a habit of it.
Hintz was not available to speak afterward because he was seeing the team doctor before the flight to Colorado.
There is real history here too. Hintz tore his hamstring in a late-season tangle with MacKinnon and missed the rest of last season, so this one carried extra weight.
The teams meet again Wednesday at Ball Arena in Denver, with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. CT on TNT.
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