Sam Bennett and Alex DeBrincat dropped the gloves early in the second period as the Panthers host the Red Wings tonight.
DeBrincat drew a roughing minor first, and the two went at it right after. On paper it's a mismatch, with Bennett listed at 6'1 and 195 pounds and DeBrincat at 5'8 and 180.
Jameson Olive flagged it the moment the gloves came off.
Max Bultman called it quite the size mismatch, but said DeBrincat held his own, as he always does. Because Bennett got the extra rough, Detroit also came away with a power play.
A Red Wings podcast account was thrilled with the whole sequence: the roughing call DeBrincat drew, the fight, and the man advantage that followed.
For Florida, Bennett fighting is not a surprise. He has 7 goals and 10 points in 19 games, and Sam Bennett's hot stretch in Columbus has been the story of the week. He also has 17 penalty minutes, and he plays with an edge.
Ryan Hana has complained about the free crosschecks the Tkachuks and Bennett receive. Maurice put that trio back together in Columbus, so the Tkachuks reuniting with Bennett was already a talking point before tonight.
Why the Panthers needed a spark
Olive noted that Florida was outshot in high-danger attempts 7-1 in the first period, with Detroit sitting at a 76.33 xGF%. That's a team getting pushed around at home.
A fight doesn't fix that, but it does change the temperature in the building. It also hands Detroit a power play, which is a steep price for Florida if the Panthers don't kill it.
DeBrincat came out ahead on the exchange, in our view. He took on a bigger player, drew the minor that started it, and walked away with a power play for a Red Wings team that has lost four straight.
The game is still going, with the second period winding down. The Panthers head to St. Louis on Saturday, and the Red Wings travel to Tampa Bay.
This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
Who came out ahead in the Bennett and DeBrincat fight?
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