Tensions Boil Over Between Devils and Blue Jackets After Fight-Filled Showdown
Monday night’s clash between the New Jersey Devils and Columbus Blue Jackets wasn’t just another regular-season game-it was a powder keg that finally blew. And now, days later, the fallout is still rumbling through both locker rooms.
The flashpoint came during a heated exchange between Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon and Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov. What started as a post-whistle scrum escalated quickly into something much more dangerous-and controversial. Dillon ended up injured after a one-sided fight that left Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe fuming.
Keefe didn’t hold back in his postgame comments, standing firmly behind his veteran blueliner.
“All I know is there's no more honorable player in this league than Brenden Dillon and [he] plays as hard and honest a game as anybody in the league,” Keefe said. “He would never do something like that to another player. That I know for certain.”
Keefe’s frustration was clear-and understandable. The incident saw Voronkov land multiple bare-knuckle punches before Dillon even had a chance to get his gloves off.
Then came the takedown: Dillon, clearly off balance, fell face-first to the ice with Voronkov landing on top of him. It wasn’t just a fight-it was a sequence that raised serious questions about intent and safety.
Keefe later elaborated on what he saw, suggesting Dillon may not have even realized a fight was coming.
“I don't think Dilly knows he's in a fight,” Keefe said. “I think he's tackled from behind, and before he knows it, his helmet is off, his jersey's over his head, and we saw what happened from there. I don't like it at all.”
That moment was just the beginning of a night that spiraled into chaos. Fists flew, tempers flared, and the penalty box saw plenty of traffic.
Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler was ejected for what was essentially an equipment violation during another skirmish. Stefan Noesen also squared up with Voronkov in a second bout, as the game devolved into a series of personal vendettas.
Now, the Blue Jackets are firing back-at least verbally. Head coach Dean Evason responded to Keefe’s comments, making it clear the Blue Jackets didn’t appreciate the public questioning of their players’ character, specifically Voronkov and rookie Adam Fantilli.
“We saw [Keefe’s] comments,” Evason said. “They have no bearing on our room.”
It’s the kind of response you expect from a coach defending his guys-but it also signals this story isn’t going away quietly.
And there may be more fireworks to come. Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier, who didn’t play Monday, added fuel to the fire with a subtle social media move-liking a tweet that hinted at payback when the two teams meet again on New Year’s Eve. It’s not much, but in the NHL, even a “like” can speak volumes.
So, are we witnessing the birth of a new rivalry?
The Devils have had their share of heated matchups in recent years-most notably with the Carolina Hurricanes. That one’s been fueled by playoff battles and some genuine disdain.
Their long-standing rivalry with the Flyers has cooled a bit, but Columbus? That’s a new frontier.
Right now, it’s more tension than tradition. No playoff history, no long-standing grudge. But what happened Monday night-and what might happen on December 31-could be the spark that lights the fire.
If both teams keep pushing the physical edge, and if the coaches keep trading barbs, this could evolve into something more than just a couple of chippy games. Rivalries don’t start in the standings-they start in moments like these, when emotions take over and grudges get personal.
For now, circle New Year’s Eve on the calendar. Because if Monday night was any indication, the Devils and Blue Jackets aren’t done with each other yet.