Like most NHL players, Capitals forward Mike Knuble has a collection of memories from his NHL debut -- the opponent, his linemates and the final score to list a few. Compared to most though, Knuble's first career NHL game included a few more colorful details.
"My very first game was Detroit against Colorado," Knuble recalled last week. "Goalies were fighting and there was a huge brawl and I'm thinking ‘I thought I just left the American [Hockey] League.' It was just bonkers."
The March 26, 1997 meeting between the Red Wings and Avalanche -- at the peak of their late '90s rivalry -- featured nine fights, including a bout between goalies Patrick Roy and Mike Vernon.
Detroit won 6-5 in overtime, securing Vernon's 300th career win. Among those on the ice that night: future Hall-of-Fame members Steve Yzerman, Larry Murphy, Igor Larionov and Roy and others likely to someday join them in Toronto in Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Brendan Shanahan and Nicklas Lidstrom.
