<P> Although fighting was rarer from the 1920s through the 1960s, it was often brutal in nature; author Ross Bernstein said of the game's early years that it "was probably more like rugby on skates than it was modern hockey ." Star players were also known to fight for themselves during the Original Six era, when fewer teams existed than in later years . However, as the NHL's expansion in the late 1960s created more roster spots and spread star players more widely throughout the league, enforcers (who usually possess limited overall skill sets) became more common . Multiple fights during the era received significant media attention . In an NHL preseason game between the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues in 1969, Bruins defenceman Ted Green and Blues left wing Wayne Maki, attacking Green, engaged in a bloody stick - swinging fight that resulted in Green sustaining a skull fracture . In 1978, World Hockey Association Birmingham Bulls enforcer Dave Hanson, known for his 11 - year professional career, fought Hall of Famer Bobby Hull and in the process got Hull's wig caught in his knuckles . The incident landed Hanson in the news, and irate Winnipeg fans attempted to assault him on his way out of the arena . Hanson appeared in the 1977 movie Slap Shot, a comedy about hockey violence . </P> <P> The rise of the "Broad Street Bullies" in the 1973--74 and 1974--75 Philadelphia Flyers served as an example for future NHL enforcers . The average number of fights per game rose above 1.0 during the 1980s, peaking at 1.17 in 1983--84 . That season, a bench - clearing brawl broke out at the end of the second period of a second - round playoff matchup between the Quebec Nordiques and the Montreal Canadiens . A second bench - clearing brawl erupted before the third period began, provoked by the announcement of penalties; a total of 252 penalty minutes were incurred and 11 players were ejected . This game is commonly referred to as the Good Friday Massacre . </P> <P> Many teams signed enforcers to protect and fight for smaller offensive stars . Fights in the 1990s included the Brawl in Hockeytown in 1997, in which the Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings engaged in nine fights, including bouts between Darren McCarty and Claude Lemieux and goalies Patrick Roy and Mike Vernon . The following year, a game between the Avalanche and Red Wings involved a fight between goaltenders Chris Osgood and Roy after which they received minor, major, and game misconduct penalties . In 2004, a Philadelphia Flyers--Ottawa Senators game resulted in five consecutive brawls in the closing minutes of the game, including fights between many players who are not known as enforcers and a fight between Flyers goalie Robert Esche and Senators goalie Patrick Lalime . The game ended with an NHL record 419 penalty minutes, and an NHL record 20 players were ejected, leaving five players on the team benches . The officials took 90 minutes to sort out the penalties that each team had received . </P> <P> By 2009--10, the amount of fights in the NHL declined to . 58 per game . A further decrease in the frequency of fighting happened over the next five seasons . The 2014--15 season had 0.32 fights per game, as teams placed a greater emphasis on skating ability and fewer young players became enforcers . </P>

When was the last bench clearing brawl in nhl