Great Moments in Battle of Ontario history: Darcy Tucker squares off against the Senators’ bench

The Battle of Ontario will be reinvigorated when the Toronto Maple Leafs square off against the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. For many of The Leafs Nation’s editorial staff, the Leafs-Senators rivalry in the 2000s provided formative memories that shaped their hockey consumption for years to come. We’re looking back on great moments in history throughout the rivalry, as The Passion once again becomes renewed. 

Rivalries are often considered bloody affairs, but Darcy Tucker and the Toronto Maple Leafs took it to a new level against the Ottawa Senators, during a routine March 4, 2003 regular season game.

Tucker was previously at the centre of an inflammatory incident during Game 5 of the second round of the 2002 playoffs. Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson got away with a hit-from-behind on Tucker, which went unpenalized. Alfredsson scored seconds later with just over two minutes remaining in the third period, as the Senators defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2, taking an identical 3-2 series lead. It was a galvanizing moment in the rivalry, as the Maple Leafs stormed back to win the following two games, with Alexander Mogilny and Curtis Joseph leading the charge.

As the Maple Leafs had eliminated the Senators in three consecutive seasons, tensions were reaching fever pitch inside the Corel Centre, with the Alfredsson-Tucker incident still fresh in each fan base’s memories.  Maple Leafs forward Travis Green — yes, that Travis Green, the Senators’ current head coach — took umbrage with what he believed to be a questionable hit delivered by Senators enforcer Chris Neil. Green pointed at Neil on the bench for a few seconds, before Tucker escalated the conflict into utter chaos.

Tucker flew towards the Senators’ bench with a cross-check and landed a few punches at a surprised Neil, who quickly returned the favour. Green tried to throw an over-the-top punch, while the Senators’ bench began throwing items at the Leafs’ bench, much to Pat Quinn’s disgust.

And then the second part of the brawl began! Tucker fought Senators defenceman Shane Hnidy on the ice and appeared to be running on pure adrenaline at this point. Tucker was escorted off the ice with an instigator, misconduct and game misconduct, Green was given the initial penalty for charging, while Neil and Hnidy both earned game misconducts. And while the referees sorted out the array of penalties, LL Cool J’s Mama Said Knock You Out blared over the speakers. There can be good humour, even among contemptuous rivals.