Bruins’ Nikita Zadorov Stays True to His Code in Toronto Bout
Nikita Zadorov’s powerful hit on Toronto’s Scott Laughton ignited a brief but intense fight on the ice, reinforcing the defenseman’s reputation for standing by his own code.
Earlier in the season, Zadorov expressed frustration when Buffalo’s Jordan Greenway declined to drop the gloves after a hard hit that injured Elias Lindholm. This time, in Toronto, Zadorov made sure to back up his actions the way he believes players should.
“Zadorov lived up to the unwritten rules he championed against Buffalo,”
The second-period collision sent Laughton crashing to the ice and forced him out of the game. Moments later, Leafs forward Bobby McMann stepped up to challenge Zadorov, accepting the call to fight.
The scrap turned into a mix of grappling and short punches. McMann, giving up five inches in height and similar reach, managed to land a few glancing blows to Zadorov’s helmet, while Zadorov responded with short uppercuts. Neither left the ice seriously hurt, and both sat for the standard five-minute penalty.
Author’s Summary
Zadorov’s response to his own heavy hit against Toronto showed his consistency with hockey’s old-school code of accountability and respect.