Lightning, Predators donnybrook in third period (Video)

Nearly halfway through the third period between the Nashville Predators had the game well in hand with a 3-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

That’s when things started to get ugly.

First Viktor Arvidsson crosschecks Vladislav Namestnikov. Luckily Namestnikov is able to brace himself to protect his face as he collides with the boards. Arvidsson, to his credit, tries to protect Namestnikov’s head before it hits the ice.

Arvidsson knew right away he made a mistake. He was very attentive to Namestnikov and apologized for making the hit.

The Preds’ player was sent off for two minutes for cross checking. This likely won’t earn Arvidsson any supplemental discipline because of the position Namestnikov was in. Yes, he saw the numbers, but it wasn’t a malicious crosscheck with intent to injure. Namestnikov stayed in and finished the game.

The teams mixed is up between whistles until just shy of six minutes left in the game.

Roman Josi has his head down as he plays the puck behind the Predators net. J.T. Brown comes in and levels Josi.

Brown, like Arvidsson, isn’t likely to face a hearing. Due to Josi’s positioning, Brown made contact with the shoulder that followed through to the head. It was a clean and mean check.

After the game, Josi stated he was pulled off the ice by the concussion spotter and is ‘fine.’

Things continued to devolve from there.

Jason Garrison appears to high stick Arvidsson in the head with a tomahawk chop; something the referees did not see.

In slow-motion, it looks really, really bad.

However, in real-time it does look accidental. (Ok, possibly slightly intentional for the earlier hit, but not a full-Duncan Keith on Charlie Coyle.)

The last 90 seconds of the game went full donnybrook.

Ryan Ellis collides with J.T. Brown away from the play. Ellis, who is listed at 5-foot-10 (on a stack of phone books), makes chest-to-shoulder contact with Brown that sends Ellis flying. Brown did not appreciate this and proceeds to wail on Ellis as his back was on the ice.

As the officials tried to tear Ellis and Brown apart, a part-line brawl, part-hug fest started among the other players on the ice.

Brown received a two minute penalty for roughing and a 10 minute misconduct; probably for not leaving the ice in a timely manner.

Ellis was given a five minute major for interference and a 10 minute game misconduct. That will likely be all the punishment he receives. It wasn’t a dirty hit (sorry, Tampa fans).

After everything was sorted out play finally resumed. With 50 seconds to go and the goalie pulled, Tyler Johnson scored to make it 3-1. That’s where it would end.

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Jen Neale is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @MsJenNeale_PD.