Canucks forward Teddy Blueger dropped the mitts with fellow Latvian Uvis Balinskis of the Panthers during Vancouver’s <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/instant-reaction-hughes-miller-vancouver-canucks-first-win-year-vs-panthers">3-2 overtime win</a> in Florida on Thursday night.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Teddy Blueger and Uvis Balinskis drop the gloves!! WHAT A RIVALRY! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TimeToHunt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TimeToHunt</a> 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/JJ4N9C8xBQ">pic.twitter.com/JJ4N9C8xBQ</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1847072575664554453?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 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&#8217;s Dan Murphy.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Blueger and Balinskis threw hands during the game and then met for hugs after the game. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#canucks</a> <a href="https://t.co/4gHceglAmA">pic.twitter.com/4gHceglAmA</a>
&mdash; Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) <a href="https://twitter.com/sportsnetmurph/status/1847098255433220144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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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&#8217; 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<a href="https://x.com/CanucksArmy/status/1847096903567368628"> steal the game for the Nucks</a>, 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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Canucks forward Teddy Blueger dropped the mitts with fellow Latvian Uvis Balinskis of the Panthers during Vancouver’s <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/instant-reaction-hughes-miller-vancouver-canucks-first-win-year-vs-panthers">3-2 overtime win</a> in Florida on Thursday night.
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https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1847072575664554453

 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.

https://twitter.com/sportsnetmurph/status/1847098255433220144

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<a href="https://x.com/CanucksArmy/status/1847096903567368628"> steal the game for the Nucks</a>, 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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