Brett Gallant and Krys Barch Go for Three, Thwart Helmet Removal Rule

Some players only get a couple of exhibition games to show what they've got. Brett Gallant isn't taking any of his preseason ice time for granted. Gallant's played two of three games for the Islanders — the maximum since they had a split-squad two-game day — and has racked up four fighting majors. That's the current NHL lead. It's easy to do when you have a willing combatant like Devils winger Krys Barch.

Barch and Gallant dropped the gloves three times last night, each earning an automatic game misconduct after the third.

Special attention will be paid to round two. Gallant, a rookie, must wear a helmet with a visor (new rule). Generally a player who has a moment before and wears a visor will remove his helmet, and the other player will follow suit. However, starting this season players that remove their own helmet before a fight will receive a minor penalty (another new rule). A few sets of players have already picked up the minors, elongating their five PIMs to seven.

Gallant had another idea. He loosened his helmet and invited Barch to do the same. Barch almost took off his own helmet, hesitated, then took off Gallant's instead, and Gallant returned the favor. Then, the fight.