Boston Bruins left wing Jeffrey Viel (48) is dropped to the ice while fighting Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP
BOSTON — It didn’t take Jeffrey Viel to do what he was summoned to Boston to do.
From the moment the Bruins announced that Viel had been called up, it seemed likely that the feisty forward, who’d been summoned to provide a spark, would spar with someone.
Viel, a 6-foot-1, 213-pound forward has built a reputation for being a good and fearless fighter, who’ll stand in against larger foes and defend teammates. He led the P-Bruins with 39 penalty minutes. Jim Montgomery didn’t mention fighting specifically, but he hoped Viel would provide energy and a spark.
Viel tried to provide that with his gloves off, pairing off with Columbus penalty minutes leader Mathieu Olivier, 2:12 into the game.
Very little hay was made in their center-ice showdown. They circled each other and then latched on to each other protectively. Viel tried to take a swing with his right hand and lost his balance.
Olivier followed unwritten hockey fight rules and didn’t hit him when he was down and reengaged when Viel had righted himself.
The Blue Jackets forward would have won what was a mostly uneventful match had there been judges. Olivier landed one solid hook and a mini uppercut, while Viel only got off a couple of short-range jersey jabs as he never quite got on solid footing. When he stumbled a second time, the officials broke it up.
They looked like they might tangle again in the first. Viel was called for boarding when he laid a heavy hit on Olivier in the corner behind Elvis Merzlikins. Olivier responded by ripping Viel’s helmet off. The officials broke it up quickly assessing coincidental minors.
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