Panthers vs. Sharks goalie fight: Explaining what sparked brawl between Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Nedeljkovic

Daniel Chavkin

Panthers vs. Sharks goalie fight: Explaining what sparked brawl between Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Nedeljkovic image

One of the best moments in all of sports is when two hockey goalies decide to duke it out and fight on the ice.

The latest example came Monday night, when San Jose Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic fought Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. The two threw punches late in the third period, with San Jose up 3-1, capping a sequence of bad blood between the teams.

The fight was a hit both in the arena and online, as fans everywhere appreciated the goalies sticking up for their teammates. Here’s a look at the fight between Nedeljkovic and Bobrovsky.

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Panthers vs Sharks goalie fight

During the Panthers-Sharks game on Monday night, goalies Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Nedeljkovic got into a rare goalie fight during a scrum on the ice. Nedeljkovic was the first to get involved, but Bobrovsky skated the entire length of the ice to challenge his fellow netminder to a fight.

In the end, Nedeljkovic seemed to take down Bobrovsky, although it wasn't the cleanest battle.

What started fight between Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Nedeljkovic?

In the third period of the game, Sharks defenseman Vincent Desharnais was called for a tripping penalty, but Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues hit him after the whistle in retaliation. That led to a scrum, with Sharks players coming to Desharnais’ defense, including goalie Alex Nedeljkovic.

Once Nedeljkovic got involved, Sergei Bobrovsky decided to enter the fray and challenge him to a one-on-one battle. The two goalies met at center ice until the fight was over, at which point they were given standing ovations.

MORE: What to know about goalie interference in the NHL

When was the last NHL goalie fight?

Earlier in the 2025-26 season, Washington Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren and Ottawa Senators goalie Linus Ullmark were almost involved in a fight of their own. Lindgren took part in a scrum between the two teams, which led to Ullmark skating down the ice and dropping his gloves. However, the two goalies never got the opportunity to go one-on-one.

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