This was expected.

Early in Wednesday's game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Winnipeg Jets, Blake Wheeler and Evgeni Malkin dropped the gloves and engaged in a round of fisticuffs.

A seemingly unusual event, but not when you recall Malkin ignited a major skirmish after hitting Wheeler in the head during the last meeting between the two teams on Feb. 17.

Wheeler later wondered how it was that Malkin wasn't suspended for the hit.

Not to be outdone, Chris Thorburn and Tom Sestito - more traditional face-punchers - fought two seconds after play resumed.

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