Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Video: Last time Kings and Rangers met in the playoffs, all heck broke loose

Rangers-Kings 1981

The New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings have never met in the Stanley Cup Final before, but they have met in the playoffs before and it got a bit heated.

Back in the 1981 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the two teams met in the preliminary Best of 5 round eventually won by the Rangers. That series didn’t go quietly as the two teams had a legendary brawl during the Kings’ only win in the series in Game 2.

As the New York Times shared, over 200 penalty minutes were handed out after a bench-clearing brawl to end the first period. It was sparked by Rangers captain Barry Beck sucker-punching Kings defenseman Rick Chartraw. Chartraw was being held back by an official when Beck threw a left hook over the referee’s shoulder.

Highlights of the melee include:


  • Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne throwing punches with Ed Hospodar.
  • Ron Duguay’s sweet hair.
  • Nick Fotiu winding up in the crowd throwing punches.
  • Future NHL GMs Don Maloney and Jim Rutherford being involved.
  • Hospodar punching Kings goalie Mario Lessard to spark things all over again.
  • The commentary is priceless including comments saying the fight is a “disgrace” and it would “set the game back 10 years.”

Sit back and enjoy the wonder of early 80s hockey:

Follow @JoeYerdonPHT