WATCH: Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Nedeljkovic Exchange Haymakers in Rare Goalie Fight During Panthers-Sharks Game

Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Nedeljkovic dropped their gloves and produced the first goalie fight in the NHL since February 2020.

WATCH: Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Nedeljkovic Exchange Haymakers in Rare Goalie Fight During Panthers-Sharks Game

Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Nedeljkovic got involved in the first goalie fight since 2020 (Image via The Sporting News/Yardbarker/X/@NBCSSharks)

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On Monday night, the NHL witnessed a goalie fight between Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Nedeljkovic. After things got heated during the Florida Panthers-San Jose Sharks game, the two goaltenders dropped their gloves and exchanged haymakers in a rare clash.

The Panthers came into this game on the back of a 5-2 win against the Washington Nationals. Meanwhile, the Sharks were hoping to bounce back following a 4-2 defeat against the Detroit Red Wings on the road.

For the Panthers, this game marked the return of their forward Matthew Tkachuk. The American international had been on the sidelines since he underwent surgery on August 22.

Following a goalless first period, the Sharks raced into a 3-0 lead within 6 minutes of the second period thanks to goals from Will Smith, Vincent Desharnais and Mario Ferraro. The home side pulled one back in the third period through Eetu Loustarinen.

The highlight point of this game, however, was the goalie fight. After Evan Rodrigues hit Desharnais, who had hit Panthers’ star Mackie Samoskevich, a scrum took place near the Sharks net. Nedeljkovic would join this scrum.

This was something that did not sit well with Bobrovsky. The Russian international would leave his crease and drop his gloves while skating towards the Sharks goalie.

The two would then get involved in a heated battle. Nedeljkovic would lose his helmet first. Seconds later, Bobrovsky’s helmet would come off, too. The goaltenders would trade some punches as fans cheered on in the Amerant Bank Arena.

Eventually, Nedeljkovic got the upper hand and emerged as the winner of this fight as he took down the opposition goaltender.

Check out another angle of this fight between Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Nedeljkovic’s fight below:

This is the first such duel between two netminders since 2020. The last fight between two goaltenders took place on February 1, 2020, between Mike Smith and Cam Talbot during the Battle of Alberta between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames.

Once things settled down, both of them were penalized for their actions. They got a 2-minute penalty for leaving their crease and a 5-minute penalty for fighting each other.

Nedeljkovic and his team scored again late on and emerged as 4-1 winners. The 30-year-old ended the game making 35 saves.

Alex Nedeljkovic dropped a hilarious reaction following fight with Sergei Bobrovsky

After 6 long years, the NHL produced a goalie fight as Alex Nedeljkovic and Sergei Bobrovsky dropped the glove and went wild. Following the game, the San Jose Sharks goalie dropped a hilarious reaction.

Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Nedeljkovic
Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Nedeljkovic (Image via The Sporting News)

Nedeljkovic did jump in the scrum and dropped some gloves. While speaking with NBC Sports California, the goaltender revealed that one of his teammates shouted at him to turn around. It was then that he realized that Bobrovsky had reached near him.

Somebody started yelling. I don’t know who it was … I don’t know why I felt the need to turn around, but it was a little bit of like an, ‘Oh crap,’ moment. I tried to watch Reavo (Ryan Reaves) as best I could. I hope I made him a little bit proud out there.

Alex Nedeljkovic told NBC Sports California in the postgame interview

Meanwhile, Bobrovsky told the reporters that he felt Nedeljkovic went a bit over the line by getting involved in the scrum in the first place.

I felt that it was a little bit too much over the line. I want to make sure to get in and let him know.

Sergei Bobrovsky told the reporters after the game

Following this game, both teams have a similar 25-20-3 record. The Sharks now have 53 points this season from 48 games. This is one point more than they had in the entirety of last season, showing some positive signs for the franchise after struggling in the past two seasons.

Whereas the Panthers, the two-time defending champions, sit 7th in the Atlantic Division following this loss.

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