Detroit Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot has fond memories of his own goalie fight and cheers the recent resurgence of such rare brawls in the NHL. With two goalie fights occurring in the past two weeks, Talbot reflects on his 2020 scrap and the legendary rivalries that inspired him. He emphasizes the excitement these moments bring to players and fans alike.
The NHL has seen a rare spike in goalie fights recently, delighting fans and players who appreciate the sport's emotional intensity. Late last month, San Jose Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic clashed with Florida Panthers netminder Sergei Bobrovsky. This was followed on Sunday evening by the first outdoor goalie fight in league history, as Tampa Bay Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy squared off against Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman during the Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium.
Before these incidents, the most recent goalie fight dated back to early February 2020, when current Red Wings goalie Cam Talbot, then with the Calgary Flames, fought Edmonton Oilers' Mike Smith. The bout occurred during the storied Battle of Alberta on a Hockey Night in Canada broadcast. Reflecting on the experience, Talbot said, "I wish I'd thought about it a little more, because seeing him standing at center ice is not the best guy you'd want to go up against; he's a big man, and it didn't go very well for me, but it was fun. I'd always wanted to have a goalie fight, and there was nothing better than at center ice during Hockey Night in Canada."
Talbot, who grew up idolizing Patrick Roy, was captivated by the Detroit Red Wings' rivalries with the Colorado Avalanche in the late 1990s. Memorable scraps included Mike Vernon versus Roy during the Red Wings' 1997 and 1998 Stanley Cup seasons, followed by Chris Osgood's fight with Roy. "Patrick was my favorite goalie growing up, so those series stick out in my mind," Talbot recalled. "That was my childhood—to stay up late and watch those ones. I always thought those were the best series, the best fights, and obviously, the rivalry was second to none."
Talbot appreciates the spark these fights provide. "It’s fun to see that emotion, the spark that it gives the guys," he noted regarding Bobrovsky's clash with Nedeljkovic. "Obviously, Bob saw something that maybe he was frustrated with, or he just didn’t like the way that Ned came out of his net, but I love that out of them. I think goalies have tried since then, and the refs have gotten in the way and not let it happen, but it’s fun to let it see them let it go on."
While not advocating fights without reason, Talbot sees value in them under the right circumstances. "Under the right circumstances, I wouldn’t say to go do it for no reason, but if you have an opportunity, go for it," he said. "I think the game is changing a little bit and getting away from that, but every time it happens, people seem to go nuts for it. It’s a good show for the fans, and I think the goalies enjoy it too."
