BOSTON —It’s not easy for Nikita Zadorov to pick a fight with someone his own size at 6-foot-6, 248-pounds, but in Buffalo’s Jordan Greenway, the Bruins defenseman found a sparring partner in his own weight class.
Greenway, who is 6-foot-6, 231-pounds didn’t like Zadorov’s unpenalized hit on Tage Thompson, who is also 6-foot-6. Greenway was jawing at Zadorov before both tossed their gloves aside to fight in the high slot in front of Joonas Korpisalo with 8:23 left in the first period.
Even though the officials let them dance for a while, neither player landed many punches as each used their long reach to keep their faces out of harm’s way.
Zadorov landed a couple of overhand rights early, while Greenway snapped off a couple of short-range jersey jabs. After Zadorov dodged one big bound house attempt by Greenway, the Bruins defense landed an odd-angle uppercut late followed by a right hook that caused Greenway to lose his balance.
The play seemed to spark the Bruins, who scored two goals in the next four minutes.
Zadorov now has an NHL-leading 133 penalty minutes this season, but most of those came before New Year’s.
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