Kings vs Bruins Gets Fiery with Kuemper-Swayman Showdown
Sunday night in Los Angeles wasn’t just about the Kings torching the Bruins 7-2 in front of a roaring home crowd. This Kings vs Bruins clash was about something that almost happened — something fans rarely get to see these days.
Two goalies, gloves off, helmets tossed, fists clenched — on the verge of going old-school in the middle of the ice.
Darcy Kuemper skated out from the Kings’ crease. Jeremy Swayman met him at center ice. For a moment, time froze.
And then, just like that, it was over. No punches. No fight. Just a wave of adrenaline and the sound of 18,000 fans screaming for more.
The Fight That Never Was: Kuemper and Swayman Nearly Throw Down
The spark that lit the fire came late in the second period.
Boston’s Marat Khusnutdinov had been shoved from behind by LA forward Tanner Jeannot, sending him barreling into Kuemper. It didn’t look intentional — more of a chain-reaction hit — but Kuemper didn’t take kindly to it. The goalie stood up, grabbed Khusnutdinov by the helmet, and yanked it clean off. That earned him a roughing penalty to go along with the goaltender interference call against the Bruins.
Swayman saw the whole thing from 200 feet away and made a decision: he wasn’t letting it slide. He left his crease, skated out to center ice, and stared Kuemper down.
Kuemper didn’t hesitate.
Both goalies tossed their gloves and took off their masks — a universal sign that this was about to get real. But before either could throw a punch, the officials stepped in. Referee Graham Skilliter got between Swayman and Kuemper just in time, with linesman Travis Toomey pulling Kuemper aside.
The crowd groaned in disappointment, and maybe even a little heartbreak. But cooler heads prevailed.
Coaches Sigh in Relief, Fans Left Wanting More
From the benches, both coaches were watching closely — and neither one was thrilled.
“I mean, nobody really wants to see their goalie fight,” Kings head coach Jim Hiller said after the game. “Well… maybe the fans do. But us coaches? Not so much. You don’t want your number one guy breaking a hand or getting hurt in a scuffle like that.”
And Hiller has every reason to be protective. Kuemper has been outstanding at home, not losing a single game in regulation at Crypto.com Arena since December 7. The Kings have the best home record in the NHL, sitting at 25-3-4, and Kuemper has been a huge part of that.
“He’s playing the best hockey we’ve seen from him in a while,” Hiller added. “We need him healthy, not throwing haymakers.”
On the Bruins’ side, Swayman’s response was all about defending his teammate. Even though no blows landed, he earned respect.
“He touched one of our guys,” Swayman said after the game. “I wasn’t going to just stand by and watch that. Kuemper stepped up, and I give him credit for that. We were both ready. It just didn’t happen.”
Both goalies were assessed minor penalties for leaving their creases. But no one was tossed, and nothing escalated. Just a brief, fiery flash of intensity in a game that had already slipped away from Boston on the scoreboard.
Source: Officials stop near-goalie fight between Kuemper, Swayman
Old-School Vibes, Modern-Day Restraint
It’s been a long time since fans witnessed a real goalie fight in the NHL. The last time it actually happened? February 1, 2020 — before the world changed — when Mike Smith and Cam Talbot went at it in a Battle of Alberta showdown between Edmonton and Calgary.
Since then, there have been a few close calls. In 2023, St. Louis’ Jordan Binnington tried to get into it with Minnesota’s Marc-Andre Fleury, but officials broke it up before it started. Binnington still managed to throw a punch at Ryan Hartman and got himself suspended two games.
Swayman, for his part, seems to be actively chasing that elusive goalie scrap. Just last year, he tried to get Joseph Woll of the Maple Leafs to fight him. Woll declined.
“He’s not afraid,” a Bruins teammate said. “It’s not about being reckless. It’s about pride. He backs his guys.”
And on Sunday, Kuemper showed he’s not afraid either.
Even though the fight never happened, it still gave the fans something to talk about. Clips flooded social media within minutes. Posts labeled it “the moment of the game,” even in a blowout.
“That’s hockey,” Kings forward Adrian Kempe said with a shrug. “Stuff gets heated. You never know what’s going to happen.”
More Than Just a Win: A Statement Night in LA
The final score tells one story — a dominating win by the Kings. But the underlying emotion of the night painted a richer picture.
You could feel it in the crowd. The chants. The collective gasp when the goalies met at center. The standing ovation when the referees pulled them apart.
There’s something almost mythical about goalie fights. Maybe it’s because they’re so rare. Maybe it’s the image — two armored giants skating the length of the ice just to stand up for their teams.
And even though fists didn’t fly, Kuemper and Swayman both left with their reputations enhanced.
“That kind of moment brings energy to the whole bench,” Kempe said. “It’s like a switch flips. Even if nothing happens, the message is clear: nobody’s getting pushed around.”
For the Kings, the message came through loud and clear. They looked fast, sharp, and confident — like a team preparing to make a deep playoff run. For the Bruins, it was a frustrating night on the ice, but they left knowing their goalie had their backs, no matter the situation.
It’s unclear whether these two teams will cross paths again this season. But if they do, no one will forget what almost went down the last time.
Wrap-Up: The Fight That Didn’t Happen, But Will Be Remembered Anyway
In sports, the moments you never forget aren’t always the ones that show up on the scoresheet. Sometimes, it’s the ones that nearly happened — the ones that bring an arena to its feet, even for just a second.
Sunday night in LA gave fans one of those moments.
Two goalies. One standoff. Zero punches.
But still, somehow… unforgettable.
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