Nathan MacKinnon measured the young defender and threw his helmet – "I was just venting my anger"

Nathan MacKinnon responded to Brandt Clark of the Los Angeles Kings with fists in the NHL season opener. The Colorado Avalanche superstar challenged the 23-year-old defenseman to a fight in the third period and won the fierce confrontation.

It had been four years since MacKinnon’s last fight. This time, he was angered by Clark’s hit on Cale Makar from behind. MacKinnon told TNT during the broadcast that he wanted to show that his teammate’s treatment would not go unpunished.

– I was just venting my anger, MacKinnon said.

Clark had also given MacKinnon a cross-check.

– And that cross-check affected me. And he didn’t say very nice things to me, MacKinnon recounted.

The rage was still visible after the fight ended: MacKinnon got up from the ice and slammed his helmet forcefully onto the ice.

Avalanche goalie MacKenzie Blackwood reacted enthusiastically to his teammate’s rare fight, although he was concerned about the superstar’s injury.

– Damn, just like that. I don’t want him fighting a lot because I don’t want him getting injured, but I don’t know, the guy has big balls.

Colorado won the game 8–4. MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen each scored two goals.