BUFFALO — Brooks Laich went to the faceoff circle so that center Michael Latta could take on his target. Almost as soon as the puck dropped, the gloves were off. Nicolas Deslauriers had hit Justin Williams earlier in the second period, knocking him down. His stick hit Williams’s face, blood splattering on the ice. Williams had to retreat back to the locker room, but eventually returned to the game, a 2-0 Capitals victory.
This Latta fight was in retaliation for Deslauriers hard hit on Williams. After Deslauriers landed several good punches and then had a takedown, he windmilled his arms up and screamed, getting the First Niagara Center crowd into it.