Goalie fights, often a crowd favorite, have almost completely disappeared from the NHL

By STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Hockey Writer

Goaltenders Robert Esche and Patrick Lalime was just one of the more memorable parts of the record-setting brawl between the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators in 2004. Two decades later, goalie fighting has almost completely disappeared from the NHL. The league has not had one since just before the pandemic and there have been just three in the last 10 years or so. Rules have made it prohibitive for goaltenders to drop the gloves like the era of feisty netminders like Ron Hextall, Patrick Roy and Felix Potvin. Fewer goalies are willing to take the risks associated with trading punches.