Red Wings D Luke Witkowski gets 10 games for Wednesday's brawl

The brawl broke out in the third period when Tkachuk smacked Witkowski on the back of the leg with his stick as he was exiting the penalty box and making his way toward the Red Wings bench to leave the game. Almost immediately, Witkowski came back out of the box and exchanged words with Tkachuk before players from both sides jumped in on the altercation.

Witkowski was assessed a fighting major, two 10-minute misconducts and a game misconduct, but doesn't regret throwing his fists.

"That's what I like to call old-time hockey," Witkowski said after the game. "I think it's good for the game. It brings fans into the sport."

Tkachuk, who was assessed a spearing major, was less than amused.

"Wisniewski, or whatever his name is, was just an absolute wrecking ball trying to start stuff, starting a complete circus with how many minutes left?" Tkachuk said. "It's a joke that a guy like that would ... just do something pretty stupid that kind of started everything. And then (he) turns back and chirps our whole bench, didn't want to go anywhere, so I just went over there to give him a little poke and tell him just to get out of here.

"He was just looking for an excuse to come back. It's just stupid."

Witkowski finished with 37 of Detroit's 74 penalty minutes. Meanwhile, Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha provided another crowd pleaser when he completed a Gordie Howe hat trick.