NHL playoffs: Max Pacioretty, Jimmy Vesey drop mitts in first-period scrap

Dave DeLuca

NHL playoffs: Max Pacioretty, Jimmy Vesey drop mitts in first-period scrap image

Talk about setting the tone.

Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty dropped the gloves with Rangers rookie Jimmy Vesey just minutes into Game 6 of the teams' Eastern Conference playoff series.

Things get chippy after the whistle as the pair exchanged cross checks and it resulted in a rare playoff bout between skill players.

Pacioretty created the spark the Habs needed as Alexei Emelin scored moments later to give Montreal a 1-0 lead.

Vesey gets some major stick taps for standing up to Pacioretty, but the Canadiens captain easily owned the fight. 

Gotta love playoff hockey.

Dave DeLuca

Dave DeLuca is an intern at Sporting News and a recent graduate of Buffalo State. He's a former intern and digital editor at The Buffalo News and executive editor of The Record, Buffalo State's student-run newspaper.