Goalies look to fight in Carolina as tensions boil over

For the third time this season, NHL fans got a chance to see a goalie fight. I mean they came this close, only to have referees robbing them from what would have been a tilt between Washington Capitals’ Logan Thompson and Carolina Hurricanes’ Frederik Andersen.

It was just less than a month ago that Andersen almost got involved in a goalie fight with Lukas Dostal of the Anaheim Ducks but there again the officials made sure to break it apart.

On Tuesday night however, Andersen left his crease to join a fracas between the Caps and Canes with five minutes left in the first period and Thompson did not think it was fair.

Andersen had just been heavily shoved by Nic Dowd and a melee broke out with the Canes’ netminder looking for retribution. Andersen’s attempt to get at Dowd drew the attention of Thompson, who skated out to center ice, dropping his glove and blocker. But the officials stopped the two goalies from getting anywhere near each other.

We’ve seen this happened another time this season when Capitals’ Charlie Lindgren wanted to go with Ottawa Senators netminder Linus Ullmark a few weeks ago.

Washington won 4-1 over Carolina, thanks to Thompson’s brilliance in net. After the game, Thompson explained why he was willing to fight Andersen:

"I have tons of respect for Andersen as a goalie... Grew up watching him. Just one of those things where you see your guys a little outnumbered there and wanted to try and come and help out. I have no animosity toward him."

Thompson only wanted to play fair, but the referees weren’t looking to deal with a goalie fight and put an end to it before it even got a chance to start. Will fans get to see a goalie fight this season?