Laviolette ‘inspired' by Briere's fight

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Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said he was inspired by Danny Brieres second period fight against Kyle Turris.

Im being serious, he said. Hes not big. Even in that fight, its a couple of skill guys and he gave up three to four inches in reach. Hes not a big guy. A fly weight. He did a good job in the fight and gave our bench a lift.

Gave the Flyers a needed boost for a better third period.

Briere, all of 179 pounds -- a light-heavyweight -- taking on Turris, who goes 225 pounds.

I thought it was a cheap shot on his part, Briere said of Turris. He kinda came down with a cross check to the head when I was in a vulnerable position on the ice, scraping my face on the ice. It was a lot of frustration.

Both players went to the box -- Briere had hooked Turris -- and when they emerged, Briere challenge Turris to fight.

He gave me a better shot and I gave him a shot back and we were in the penalty box, Turris said. When we came out, he kind of gave me a shot and asked me to go and so at the next face-off we kind of talked back and forth and ended up dropping the gloves.

Bruiser Briere doesnt get into many fights.

It wasnt a fair shot and I had to do something about it, he said.

It was just Brieres third fight of his career.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, the last Flyer to have a hat trick and a fight in the same game was Scott Hartnell on Dec. 11, 2008 vs. Carolina.

The Real Pugilist
On the subject of fights

As the Flyers approach the mid-point of the season, among the things you probably would not have suspected was that Zac Rinaldo was the clubs leading fighter.

Hes not the heavyweight on this team. Jody Shelley is.

Shelley, however, had just one fight in very limited play this season14 games. Rinaldo, on the other hand, has been an active participant on the fourth line, appearing in 32 games. He has 10 fights.

Rinaldo didnt know how many times hes dropped the gloves, either.

I guess I probably have eight, he said. Its 10? I really dont plan on that many fights. Its different games, different situations. I dont. I usually end up with 20-26 by the end of the year.

His latest bout came in Thursdays 5-4 win over Chicago when he dropped gloves with Hawks rookie Andrew Shaw after a turnover by himself led to the Hawks first goal of the game.

It wasnt just that, Rinaldo said. I knew that kid from juniors and fought him once in juniors. I wasnt in the lineup for two games and felt I owed it to the fans and my team. That was my first priority. Getting the butterflies out.

I asked him to go and he said, yes. I knew it was his first game and he wouldnt back down. First game, your adrenalin is going crazy and you dont back down from anyone.

Loose pucks
Defenseman Matt Walker cleared waivers. Flyers said he will remain on their rosterBrieres hat trick was the fifth of his career and his third as a Flyer ... Claude Giroux took 32 of 55 faceoffs and won 50 percent ... Brayden Schenn has his first NHL points in three consecutive games for a three-game scoring streak. He was also 9 for 13 on faceoffs.

E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net

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