Watch: Aston-Reese and Lafferty Fight Sabres

It was a fight night at PPG Paints Arena. The Pittsburgh Penguins had a rare fight and a second one as the Buffalo Sabres didn’t appreciate the Penguins dismissive attitude or a couple of heavy hits by Zach Aston-Reese and Sam Lafferty.

After each hit rattled the boards and awoke the crowd, Buffalo hittees gave a mitt-dropping response.

The Penguins bombarded the Sabres with 21 shots in the first period and should have led by several goals but didn’t beat Buffalo goalie Malcolm Subban more than twice until overtime in the Penguins 3-2 OT win.

Later in the first period, Aston-Reese found a big opponent who wanted a scrap. After Aston-Reese plowed through 6-foot-7 Tage Thompson in the Buffalo zone, it was on, and there were no Christmas cards exchanged.

Pittsburgh Penguins fight night:

Aston-Reese ate a couple from the big center but delivered a straight right hand at the end of scrap.

Midway through the second period, Buffalo rookie Casey Fitzgerald crossed off a few firsts. He made his NHL debut on Friday, complete with a rookie lap in warmups and his first assist.

Fitzgerald also got his first NHL fight. After Lafferty bowled him over at the red line, Fitzgerald defended his honor, and the boys traded punches in an entraining fight.