Podkolzin and Greer drop the gloves in the first period.

The Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins clashed on Sunday evening and fans who tuned in earlier were treated to a spirited first 20 minutes of action.

Not only did the two teams combine for 3 goals, with the Bruins taking a 2 - 1 lead late in the first, but we got a pretty good scrap in the closing minutes of the opening period when Canucks forward Vasili Podkolzin and Bruins forward A.J. Greer decided to settle their differences with their fists.

It was a back and forth affair between the 21 year old Russian and the Bruins veteran, and in spite of the fact that he was giving up size, weight and experience in this one, Podkolzin showed a willingness to engage with Greer.

Both men appeared to rock each other with a solid shot at different points in the exchange before they both crashed to the ice together and were separated by the officials.

The fight started after Greer landed a heavy hit on Podkolzin, one that the Canucks first round pick clearly did not appreciate. It's unclear if it was from the hit or from the fight, but Podkolzin was quite clearly busted open after the exchange with Greer was over.