VIDEO: Barch and Gallant remove each other's helmets pre-scrap
Look at these two nice young gentlemen. They're so worried about breaking their hands during this face-punching contest, that they decided removing their opponent's helmet was the polite and proper thing to do.
Seriously though, Krys Barch and Brett Gallant were just finding a loophole for this rule:
46.6 Helmets – No player may remove his helmet prior to engaging in a fight. If he should do so, he shall be assessed a two minute minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Helmets that come off in the course of and resulting from the altercation will not result in a penalty to either player.
It's only a matter of time before the NHL makes a rule amendment in an attempt to stop this kind of thing from becoming the norm.
On an unrelated note, this picture of Krys Barch is terrifying.
(H/T to Puck Daddy)