The last time the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders met on a Friday night at Nassau Coliseum, it resulted in 346 penalty minutes, three suspensions and a $100,000 fine for the Islanders. It also featured 15 fighting majors, including a bout between Eric Godard and Trevor Gillies, who was eventually suspended nine games for injuring Eric Tangradi (and then mocking him).
The teams met again on Friday night, and Gillies and Godard dropped the gloves 8:59 into the game.
Gillies and Godard were given five minutes for fighting and 10-minute misconducts.
At 11:57 of the first period, Arron Asham of the Penguins fought Zenon Konopka, who you may remember threatened to rip his Mario Lemieux poster off his wall after Lemieux threatened to leave the NHL over the Feb. 11 brawl.
Konopka received five for fighting, two for instigating and a 10-minute misconduct. Asham was given five for fighting.
Credit referees Francois St. Laurent and Eric Furlatt for gaining some semblance of control during a first period that featured 13 different penalties. But we're sure these players knew that the Wheel of Justice was ready to spin on any deplorable play tonight on the Island.