It took longer than expected, but Ryan Reaves’ first fight as a Ranger didn’t disappoint.
With the game tied at one apiece early in the second period, Canadiens winger Michael Pezzetta challenged Reaves to drop the gloves. It was a surprise to Reaves, but he obliged, dropping his gloves before dropping Pezzetta to the ice with a flurry of punches to rile up the Madison Square Garden crowd, and the Rangers bench.
“I don’t know if I ran him or someone else. I couldn’t really tell who I hit,” Reaves said. “But he just came up behind and was yelling at me. I don’t know if you’ve seen the replay, but there was a lot of confusion on my face. I didn’t know if he was serious or not.”
Reaves didn’t know much about Pezzetta, but was certainly expecting more from the former sixth-round pick, who made his NHL debut earlier this season.
“I was very confused about what was going on,” Reaves said. “That was the second time in my career I was confused whether the guy from the minors was an absolute killer trying to make a name or something, but both ended the same way.
“I assume he could fight. Well, I assumed he could fight.”
It wasn’t much of a fight, and it seemed to ignite some life in the Rangers, who scored less than 30 seconds later to take the lead en route to the team’s fourth straight win.
“The crowd was into it,” Reaves said. “It’s always nice to be in the box after a fight and the boys go get on.e that was a great response after the fight by the boys.”
Reaves’ teammates certainly enjoyed their first up-close look at the enforcer in action, even if it took longer than expected to happen for the first time.
“Good fight,” Igor Shesterkin said. “I don't want to come under his hot hand.”
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