Nathan MacKinnon fights Brandt Clarke in season opener

As it turns out, the NHL’s reigning Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner can also drop the gloves.

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon squared up with Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke towards the end of their 2026-27 regular-season opener Wednesday night in Denver.

With less than seven minutes to go in the third period and the Avalanche up 6-4, MacKinnon and Clarke took healthy whacks at one another while battling in front of the Kings’ net. Eventually the two squared up, with the Colorado forward landing several rights on the young blueliner.

The Avalanche would go on to win the game 8-4. MacKinnon ended the night with two goals in 17:44 of ice time, while Clarke had two blocked shots in 18:57.

After the game, MacKinnon confirmed to reporters he challenged Clarke to fight.

“It happens. It’s an intense game, and he didn’t say a great word to me, and I didn’t like the word, and yeah we fought,” he said.

MacKinnon’s fighting major was his first in two seasons. His last one came during three-assist performance in December 2024 against Utah Mammoth defenseman Barrett Hayton.

Now in his 14th NHL campaign, MacKinnon has 422 goals and 722 assists for 1,144 points in 951 regular-season games. The 31-year-old has recorded four consecutive 100-point seasons, dating back to 2022-23.

In 108 playoff games, he’s posted 62 goals and 78 assists for 140 points. He helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022, where he scored 13 goals and added 11 assists for 24 points that spring.

After a 2023-24 campaign that saw MacKinnon finish with 51 goals and 89 assists for 140 points, he won the Hart Memorial Trophy. Last season, he scored 53 goals to earn the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the league’s top goal scorer.

As for Clarke, the 23-year-old blueliner is entering his third season as a full-time NHLer. In 186 career regular-season games, he has 15 goals and 66 assists for 81 points. He also has two goals and an assist in 10 playoff games.

You can watch the full fight here…