BUFFALO, N.Y. – Zac Dalpe is engaged and hasn't set a wedding date yet, but when the Wild center does, Boston Bruins forward Tim Schaller will have an invitation in the mail.
Yet, there Dalpe was Tuesday night throwing haymakers at his buddy a few minutes into the Wild's eventual win.
What gave? Dalpe and Schaller, each trying to make an impression on their new coaches, were trying to fire up their individual teams. Dalpe nonchalantly skated by and next thing you knew, the gloves were dropped and punches were thrown by the former teammates in the Buffalo organization.
It was Dalpe's first NHL fight after only four in the AHL, so fighting is not exactly his MO.
"I never would have thought [my first one] would be against him," Dalpe said. "Nonetheless, you kind of get your feet wet so to speak. It's weird fighting a friend of yours, that's for sure."
Dalpe, 26, who scored a beautiful tying goal against Toronto last week, played 21 games for the Sabres two years ago. He grew up 90 minutes away in Paris, Ontario, and says the Sabres are actually more nostalgic for him than the Maple Leafs because he grew up going to Buffalo games.
"It's cool coming back here," said Dalpe, whose stall in the visitors' dressing room was the same one he had a few training camps ago.
Coach Bruce Boudreau respects Dalpe wholeheartedly, although it's still likely he'll be an up-and-down forward this season. In fact, with Erik Haula close to returning from a foot injury, Dalpe could be reassigned soon if the Wild wants to avoid having to put him on waivers. He cleared waivers earlier this month, and players require waivers again after 10 games or 30 days.
