Goalie Fight! Ryan Miller battles Jonathan Bernier during line brawl between the Sabres and Leafs.
Canadian Press/Frank Gunn

Things turned ugly in a preseason rematch between the Sabres and Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The bitter rivals squared off in a line brawl midway through the third period. It all started when Jamie Devane bloodied Corey Tropp moments after he scored. Tropp gave away five inches and 37 pounds to the Leafs’ tough guy. Not coincidentally, he lost his helmet and hit his head on the ice. Just the kind of dangerous situation the NHL wants to avoid by inserting the helmet rule that prevents fighters from removing them.

Perturbed by what occurred, Buffalo coach Ron Rolston sent out noted enforcer John Scott on the next shift. What ensued was total chaos with Scott picking on Phil Kessel. It was an eye for an eye. A game of chicken between Rolston and Toronto bench boss Randy Carlyle. Carlyle opted to keep Kessel on with Tyler Bozak and rookie Carter Ashton, hoping to diffuse the situation. That didn’t deter Scott one bit from starting a full line brawl that included a rare goalie fight between Ryan Miller and Jonathan Bernier. Here’s how it looked and sounded.

Even though I get the rationale of having Scott avenge Tropp, going after Toronto’s leading scorer is ridiculous. It’s the way Rolston coaches. He stuck his enforcers against the Rangers late last season. I don’t agree with having Scott chase Kessel around the ice like Tom & Jerry. It makes the game a mockery. It’s not like Tropp backed away from Devane’s challenge. Go after someone lesser known. Instead, you see Kessel go back at Scott with repeated slashes and even a spear that’ll probably result in suspension for the rest of preseason. If you had his talent and saw a 6-8 goon follow through on a threat, what would you do?

“He said he was going to jump me,” Kessel said following Toronto’s 5-3 win.

Then there was the epic goalie fight between Miller and Bernier. No doubt Bernier can handle himself and got the better of Miller. I’m sure that’s what the Sabres wanted to see. Their number one goalie involved in a meaningless scrap during exhibition. But sometimes, things happen.

“That’s the way it goes. That’s a hockey game,” Bernier said. “You get hyper and an energy and I wanted to defend my teammates.”

“You can’t pass up a fight when you’re in Toronto in Maple Leaf Gardens,” a defiant Miller explained. “I mean, you back off from that one, what kind of hockey player are you? So I figured I might as well give it a shot.

“I thought I did OK. He got loose a little bit on me there, but toward the end (I) kind of got back into it.”

I kind of admire Miller’s bravery. The whole bit about a team sticking together. But it was a mismatch. He’s lucky he didn’t get hurt.

The last bit involves David Clarkson. The former Devil came off the bench guaranteeing an automatic 10-game suspension to start his Leafs career. Way to go. I always thought he had a few screws loose. Maybe Sean Avery wasn’t kidding. Toronto just paid him all that money and now he’ll miss the first 10 games for being stupid. There’s no other way to put it. It’s against league rules to leave the bench.

NHL Rule 70.10 states: “The first player to leave the players’ or penalty bench illegally during an altercation or for the purpose of starting an altercation from either or both teams shall be suspended without pay for the next 10 regular league and/or playoff games of his team.”

“We’re not proud or happy about what went on, that’s for sure,” Carlyle said. “I think David Clarkson made a mistake and now we pay for it.”

“Are we going to see Clarkson our first game against these guys?” Miller quipped referencing the Sabres’ first meeting against the Leafs on November 15. “I don’t have my schedule. So probably not the brightest move by him. But I guess they figured they needed two guys to take down John.”

Clarkson won’t be eligible to return until October 25 against Columbus. So, the answer is yes. Watch him lose his head again. Will Toronto still love him like boyhood idol Wendel Clark? There will be a big fallout on both sides. This definitely isn’t as cool as Paul Ranger’s punt attempt in the 10th round of a wild 15 round shootout.