HERE IS THE ONLY REASON YOU MIGHT WANT TO WATCH HOCKEY! THEY BANG OUT!

The previous meeting between the Islanders and the Penguins was nasty well before Brent Johnson's one-punch knockout of Rick DiPietro went viral.
But the writers of "Slap Shot" couldn't have dreamed up such a venomous bloodbath for the rematch.

The Isles initially TKO'd Johnson with six goals in the first 24 minutes en route to a stunning 9-3 shellacking at the Coliseum. And the gloves predictably came off several times thereafter, including Bridgeport call-up Micheal Haley likely earning a lengthy suspension for getting in a third-period fight with Max Talbot in one corner and then skating the length of the ice to deck Johnson at the other end.

"We're a family, and Cousin Haley jumped right in," fourth-line tough guy Zenon Konopka said. "A lot of liberties have been taken over the course of the season, and it can only be built up so much before it comes out. I'm proud of everyone for sticking up for each other."

In all, the series of fights resulted in 10 players - five from each team - earning game misconducts. That includes two apiece for Haley and ex-Isle Eric Godard, who also will be suspended for leaving the Pens' bench and joining the fray when Haley rushed toward Johnson, who reentered the game in the third.

There were a whopping 346 minutes in penalties assessed in the game, an Islanders franchise record.

"I'm sure on both sides there will be some (suspensions), for sure," Isles coach Jack Capuano said.

The oft-injured DiPietro is expected to miss up to six weeks with facial fractures and knee swelling from Johnson's lefty one-timer late in a 3-0 Isles loss in Pittsburgh on Feb. 2. But the bad blood on the Isles' side simmered because winger Blake Comeau remains sidelined with a concussion following an uncalled blindside hit that night by Talbot.

Johnson was pulled in favor of Marc-Andre Fleury after Haley's first NHL goal made it 6-0 3:46 into the second period. Barely one minute later, the first brawl erupted after the Isles' Matt Martin jumped Talbot at center ice, earning him an instigator and resulting in three game misconducts on each side.

"Emotions took over," said Haley, who leads Bridgeport in goals and penalty minutes this season. ""Honestly, right now it's just a blur."

Michael Grabner (12 goals in 13 games) and Matt Moulson scored twice apiece for the Isles and are tied for the team lead with 21.

"It felt good to put a lot by (Johnson)," Moulson said. "Hopefully, Ricky got a little satisfaction from that."



SOURCE