Florida Panthers? Tomas Kopecky puts brawl behind him

When we last left the Panthers and Rangers, they were trading playing hockey for a good, old-fashioned boxing/wrestling match.

The fight occurred during the final 10 seconds of the Rangers? easy 4-1 triumph at the BankAtlantic Center on Friday. Thursday, it?s time to lace up the gloves ? no, make that skates ? for another showdown between the Southeast Division-leading Panthers and the Atlantic Division-leading Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Could more haymakers be in the offing? Florida?s Tomas Kopecky was a central figure in the brawl and received a league-maximum fine of $2,500 for his part in the fight. Wednesday, at practice in Coral Springs before leaving for New York, Kopecky was all peace and happiness.

?I think everything will be fine,? he said of taking on the Rangers again. ?I?m going to play just like any other regular game.

?I?m not going to be looking to stir the pot. That game is over for me. It?s nothing that I would carry on. ... There are no emotions. That happened last game and it?s over.?

The brawl six days ago was set off when Kopecky took a high stick from the Rangers? Michael Del Zotto and in retaliation Kopecky punched Del Zotto from behind, sending him crashing to the ice. That put both teams in fighting mode, and afterward numerous Rangers accused Kopecky of throwing a ?sucker punch.?

Del Zotto, like Kopecky, also received a $2,500 fine from the league.

Madden signs up

The Panthers signed three-time Stanley Cup champion John Madden to a one-year contract. At 38, Madden will be the oldest player on the roster.

Madden has appeared in 867 NHL games and had a stretch of 10 consecutive NHL playoff seasons.

?I felt good out there,? Madden said after Wednesday?s workout. ?I think they wanted to see what they were getting.?

There was no decision on when Madden would receive playing time.

?John has great depth of experience,? coach Kevin Dineen said. ?He has always been a very sharp player. He can play the game many different ways, but I think his identity will always be with the defensive side of things.??

??The NHL has not talked to or made any decision on Panthers forward Krys Barch, who was ejected from Saturday?s game against Montreal for an alleged racial slur. Barch?s agent has said that Barch did not make any racial comment and that they have been in contact with the NHL Players Association.

?We?re in a holding pattern right now,? Dineen said. ?I think the league has decided to take its time and go through the proper channels.??

Barch?s expected meeting with NHL officials has been ?a moving target,? according to Dineen. He added, ?With us going to the New York area [site of the NHL offices], that?s a possibility.?

??Goalie Jacob Markstrom was recalled from AHL affiliate San Antonio, and goalie Brian Foster was assigned to San Antonio.

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/04/2573961/florida-panthers-tomas-kpecky.html

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