NHL outdoor game sees its 1st goalie fight between Vasilevskiy, Swayman - ESPN

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning credited the first goalie fight in an NHL outdoor game for helping to spark their historic Stadium Series comeback win over the Boston Bruins on Sunday.

With 8:59 left in the second period and the Bruins leading 5-2, Lightning forward Brandon Hagel tried to poke the puck from under Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman after a save. Swayman then jumped on top of Hagel next to his crease, leading to a melee between the teams while the Lightning were on a power play. Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy skated from his crease to the opposite blue line during the chaos.

«I just saw Sway was swinging the blocker on [Hagel] a bit, so it was just a reflex to go to the red line and challenge him. He accepted,» Vasilevskiy said.

Swayman spotted the Tampa Bay goalie, dropped his stick and skated out to meet Vasilevskiy as the two engaged near center ice. Swayman took off his gloves and mask and signaled to Vasilevskiy to remember to remove his mask before the fists flew.

«I don't want to hit his helmet, so I'm glad we didn't do that,» Swayman said.

The Lightning goalie nicknamed «The Big Cat» grabbed Swayman's collar and started throwing left hands. The Boston goalie wasn't able to get much offense in before Vasilevskiy wrestled him to the ice.

Did Swayman know that Vasilevskiy was a lefty before their fight?

«No,» the Bruins goalie said curtly, with a laugh. «Glad we both had our first gig against each other. Really worthy opponent.»

Vasilevskiy gave him a tap on the back and then tapped the back of Swayman's head in appreciation of the moment, grinning widely as the fans roared inside Raymond James Stadium.

«When we both fell, we just kind of said to each other nice words. It was super nice. It's one