HOCKEY FIGHT: Reigning Penalty Minutes Champ Mark Borowiecki Graces Us With The First Throwdown Of The New NHL Season!!

When I get wind of a hockey fight after the fact, I often like to do the “headshot test”. That is, skip ahead to the box score and see who threw hands, take a quick look at their headshots on whichever website is handiest, and make a quick call, pure eye test, on who will emerge victorious.

And I mean…just look at these dudes. 

You tell me before you watch the video who won — EVEN WITHOUT knowing Mark Borowiecki led the NHL with 151 PIM last season. TBH I probably spoiled that whole premise anyway by featuring Borowiecki in the thumbnail image to this blog.

BOROCOP REPORTING FOR DUTY (h/t Preds official Twitter account for this nickname I wasn't aware of before). 

Tale of the tape: Preds defenseman Mark Borowiecki matched his opponent’s 6-2 height but was giving up five pounds and over eight years (if my on-the-go math is correct) to his spunky fellow pugilist Jonah Gadjovich. 

Now, Jonah did post a respectable 74 penalty minutes in just 43 games last season, but didn’t he know better than to fuck with this man in particular? No offense to the 23-year-old spring chicken. Young men will be young men and seek out fellow enforcers to build their clout and reputation. But like…it’s the NHL Global Series, bro. No need for your embarrassment to be exacerbated into an international incident. Wait till you’re back home in San Jose to come after Boro like this. Let the home crowd fuel your fire. Don’t get pwned in Prague.

As for the wily Preds vet, he was giving off full Liev Schrieber as Ross “The Boss” Rhea in the criminally underrated 2011 film Goon. Boro was straight-up WAILING on this dude. Just shot after shot. FACE-FACE-FACE-FACE-FACE-FACE till his helmet popped off. I'm actually impressed Gadjovich held his own as well as he did. In the penalty box afterwards, Borowiecki appeared to casually examine a split-open fist and shrug it off like it was nothing. HOCKEY GUY.

Everyone at this company seems to be pumping up their blogging game. Funny enough, Borowiecki is actually doing a blog of his own during his stay in Prague! Happy Return of The NHL, everyone. The real season starts in earnest on Tuesday. Confusing as many other clubs continue their preseason slate today. But hey, growing the game and all that jazz. AND BRAWLS, BABY.

As for the game: No surprise based on how beastly Boro was to galvanize his teammates: Preds won, 4-1.

Twitter @MattFitz_gerald/TikTok