Florida's McIlrath wanted to fight and Wild tough guy Stewart left him bloodied
Credit: Hockey Fights
While the Florida Panthers were getting beat down by the Minnesota Wild Wednesday night, it was Florida's Dylan McIlrath trying to beat up a couple of Wild players.
McIlrath, who scored the lone goal for Florida, dropped the gloves with Kurtis Gabriel in the first period and then fought with Chris Stewart in the third period. He ripped Gabriel's jersey before getting bloodied after Stewart pumped him in the face with a stiff right hand.
As Wild analyst Mike Greenlay described it, because McIlrath was wearing a visor it was like a bug on a windshield when Stewart punched him.
The Wild won the game 5-1. They've won five straight and have gone 6-1-3 in their last 10 to move within six points of the Blackhawks in the Central Division.