BOSTON — The Bruins landed the bulk of the blows on the scoreboard in a 6-3 exhibition victory over the Islanders Friday night at the Garden, but visiting New York did get in a few late shots of a different kind.
A relatively calm game took a nasty turn with 2:07 left in the third period and the Bruins already ahead 6-3 after a four-goal outburst in the third. That's when David Krejci leveled an Islander with a hard but clean hit deep in the New York zone and was jumped by Islander rookie Justin DiBenedetto.
"It was a clean hit, and I got jumped," Krejci said. "That's all I can comment on."
Krejci did have a few more things to say though, most notably professing a complete ignorance of DiBenedetto, a 23-year-old forward taken in the sixth round of the 2008 draft.
"I don't even know who the guy is, to tell you the truth," Krejci said. "I understand. I don't know who that kid is, but I understand he's battling for a spot on the roster. I understand that. I don't want to comment on that. I don't know that kid. I don't think I ever played against him before. So we'll see what happens."
What happened Friday night wasn't much as far as hockey fights go. DiBenedetto wasn't able to do any damage as the linesmen and Krejci's Bruins teammates quickly converged to turn the would-be bout into a big scrum.
"I had my helmet on, my gloves on, I just got jumped from behind," said Krejci, who has two career fights in 298 regular-season games in the NHL, both coming last year against Montreal. "That was it. He fell on me and I didn't get a chance to do anything. I don't even want to fight. It's a preseason game. C'mon, it's the first game. I want to get my timing."
Krejci didn't have a chance to attempt to fight back, but still was charged with a fighting major. DiBenedetto was given an instigating minor, an additional minor penalty for instigating a fight while wearing a visor, a five-minute major for fighting and a game misconduct for instigating a fight in the final five minutes of the game. That last penalty also carries with it an automatic one-game suspension and a fine to Islanders coach Jack Capuano. The suspension and fine can be waived by the league.
Bruins coach Claude Julien wasn't pleased to see his top-line center jumped by DiBenedetto, who has spent the bulk of his first two pro seasons in the AHL with just eight games up with the Islanders last year.
"I didn't think it was warranted," Julien said. "The guy jumping him has a visor and everything else. This is a guy, talking about Krejci, who I don't think is known for his toughness. He's not a guy that goes looking for it. But it's a young guy [DiBenedetto] trying to prove himself and trying to make a mark. The referees were there and no damage done, so you just move on."
