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Blueger and Balinskis share hug post game following fight during Canucks vs. Panthers
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Photo credit: © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Clarke Corsan
Oct 17, 2024, 23:48 EDTUpdated: Oct 17, 2024, 23:47 EDT
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Canucks forward Teddy Blueger dropped the mitts with fellow Latvian Uvis Balinskis of the Panthers during Vancouver’s 3-2 overtime win in Florida on Thursday night.
The fight, which was a rare moment of physical confrontation between the two Latvians, was followed by a heartwarming embrace post-game, captured by Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy.
Blueger and Balinskis once shared the ice not as rivals, but as teammates for their home country during the 2017 and 2018 IIHF World Championship.
Balinskis is entering his first NHL season after bouncing between the Florida Panthers and their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, in the 2022-23 season. The 28-year-old defenseman contributed 1 goal and 3 points through 26 NHL games last year, while adding 3 goals and 21 points in 37 AHL games. After honing his skills in Europe and excelling in the Czech league, Balinskis finally secured a more permanent spot on the Panthers’ roster this season, looking to make his mark in the NHL.
Teddy Blueger, meanwhile, is a more established NHL player. At 30 years old, the Riga native has enjoyed a solid career as a defensive forward, previously playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins before signing with Vancouver. He’s entering his second season with the Canucks after a solid 2023-24 where he earned himself a two-year, $3,600,000 contract in the offseason. 
Blueger opened the scoring against Sergei Bobrovsky with his second of the season midway through the first period of Thursday’s contest. The goal, a wraparound attempt that required a lengthy review, helped set the tone for what would be an intense, closely-fought contest.
The Canucks and Panthers went goal for goal the rest of the way, needing overtime to decide the victor. J.T. Miller buried his second of the year to steal the game for the Nucks, who now sit at 1-1-2 after four games.
Despite their scrap during the game, Blueger and Balinskis showed the bond they share as countrymen. After the final buzzer, the two Latvians hugged, leaving fans with a touching reminder that despite the competition, there’s always room for camaraderie off the ice. 
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