Dropping the Gloves, Driving the Play? Reassessing the Role of Fighting in Modern NHL Games

Abstract

This paper investigates the evolving role of fighting in NHL hockey by analyzing over one million play-by-play events from the 2021-22 to 2023-24 seasons. Using Corsi as a proxy for offensive activity, we find that fights are associated with short-term increases in game intensity - particularly for trailing teams. A logistic regression model further shows that fights are more likely in games with more hits and when score differentials are large. These findings suggest that fighting continues to shape game momentum and fan experience in subtle and measurable ways.