Goalie fight breaks out at Leafs versus Sabres

Andrew Francis Wallace, @awallacethestar & Steve Russell, @RussellPhotos        - Staff Photographers

Less than 24 hours after an Ultimate Fighting Championship octagon had been dismantled at centre ice after UFC 165 it seemed that the blood letting had not finished.

An otherwise uneventful, well, boring game erupted in the third period to a series of bloody brawls that climaxed in a goalie fight.

ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE - Aquired in the off season Jonathan Bernier stretches prior to Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres NHL pre-season game at Air Canada Centre.

 

 ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE - Joffrey Lupul plays in his first pre-season game.

 

ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE - Leafs fans pull along a large Canadian flag during the national anthem.

 

STEVE RUSSELL - Phil Kessel opens up scoring by going up high on Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller in the first period.

 

STEVE RUSSELL - Brayden Thomas from Markham watches the first period.

 

STEVE RUSSELL - Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier makes a glove save  in the second period.

 

STEVE RUSSELL - Toronto Maple Leafs John-Michael Liles checks Luke Adamin the second period. 

 

STEVE RUSSELL -  Joe Colborne celebrates Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Josh Leivo's, right,  goal in the second period.

 

STEVE RUSSELL - Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk would get a goaltender interference penalty for running over Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller as Buffalo Sabres defenseman Chad Ruhwedel looks on in the third period.

 

STEVE RUSSELL - Referees all wearing GoPros confer in the third period.

 

STEVE RUSSELL - Buffalo Sabres right wing Corey Tropp fights with Jamie Devane in the third period.

 

STEVE RUSSELL - Buffalo Sabres right wing Corey Tropp checks his teeth after fighting with Jamie Devane.

 

STEVE RUSSELL - David Clarkson skates in from the left to join a scrap involving all the players on the ice, David Clarkson may have left the bench to join the melee in the third period.

 

STEVE RUSSELL - The fight had everyone saying the same thing to themselves, "old time hockey."

 

ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE - Toronto Maple Leafs Phil Kessel fights Buffalo Sabres Brian Flynn.

 

STEVE RUSSELL - Brian Flynn is cut after fighting with Phil Kessel.

 

STEVE RUSSELL - Ryan Miller and Jonathan Bernier begin to tango....

 

STEVE RUSSELL - ....we mean tangle.

 

ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE - Jonathan Bernier fights Buffalo Sabres Ryan Miller during the third period.

 

ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE -  Referee Kelly Sutherland directs bloodied Buffalo Sabres Brian Flynn after a third period fight with Toronto Maple Leafs Phil Kessel, skating past, during NHL pre-season action.

 

ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE - Toronto Maple Leafs Phil Kessel confronts Buffalo Sabres John Scott after a all out brawl during third period.

 

ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE - Toronto Maple Leafs David Clarkson and linesman Tim Nowak restrain Buffalo Sabres John Scott from trying to get at the Maple Leafs Troy Bodie, #40.

 

STEVE RUSSELL - The referee sorts out the penalties in the aftermath of a brawl.

 

ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE - Leafs' fans cheer as the fallout of the brawl is sorted out and the Leafs win 5-3.