Fights between hockey players are not infrequent but you rarely ever see the goalies get into a fight. Separated by 200 feet of ice, they usually remain by their goal cages, content to watch their teammates fight. Not so last night.
Rick DiPietro of the New York Islanders is one of the premier goalies in the National Hockey League. Brent Johnson of the Pittsburgh Penguins is no slouch either.
Last night, with the Pens leading 3-0 and only seconds left in the game, DiPietro took a run at Penguins forward Matt Cooke, earning Rick a penalty for interference. But the penalty was not enough for Johnson.
Brent skated across the ice past a referee who attempted to stop him and met Rick for some good old fisticuffs. As they squared off, Brent beat Rick to the punch with a powerful left that flattened the Islanders goalie. Poor DiPietro, he not only had three goals scored on him but, adding insult to injury, he also got clocked by the opposing goalie.
Both goalies were given game misconducts, as well as five-minute majors for fighting. Because Brent did not get to finish the game, he was deprived of earning the 15th shutout of his career. Marc-Andre Fleury, who congratulated Johnson as he left the ice, finished the game in goal. Since Fleury did not face a shot, the game officially became a ‘team shutout.’
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