January 16, 2003

What started out as a routing mid-January game on the NHL calendar resulted in an all-out brawl when the Predators traveled to Calgary’s Saddledome for the teams’ second meeting of the 2002-03 season.

The pot was boiling for the majority of regulation, but the top finally blew off with just two seconds remaining in overtime when Flames start Jarome Iginla charged goaltender Tomas Vokoun while driving to the net. A fed-up Vokoun immediately took his anger out on the Calgary captain, and everyone piled on – including Flames netminder Jamie McLennan who made the 200-foot skate to the other end of the ice.

"Iginla just came down full-speed when I was standing still without the puck," Vokoun said. "In this league, you have to stand up for yourself or you're going to get punished all the time. It was the end of the game and I just went after him."

Vokoun said he initially did not notice McLennan joining the fray.

"I didn't see him because the referee pulled me down and he kind of put the jersey over my head,” Vokoun continued. "Then I knew McLennan came and I was just trying to get up and fight. But I couldn't because the referees were both right there and they were holding on, so we weren't fighting much."

Both goalies received 10-minute misconduct penalties and two-minute roughing calls, with McLennan receiving an extra two for leaving the crease.

The grudge match between the Flames and Preds has built from there, providing other memorable moments including Jordin Tootoo’s bout with Iginla on Jan. 22, 2004.

 “Those were incidents in the past that stirred some anger,” head coach Barry Trotz said of the past history. “We have had some memorable games with them – there have been some scrapes and incidents that have made both teams very competitive.”