Hockey

“If I Had To Do Anything In My Career Over Again, It’s March 26” – Darren McCarty On Iconic NHL Fight

Published: Apr 21, 2025, 11:00 AM
1 min read
Updated: Jul 24, 2025, 11:00 AM
Fact checked by:
Sergey Demidov
Red Wings forward Darren McCarty and Avalanche forward Claude Lemieux fight during the first period on March 26, 1997, at Joe Louis Arena

Red Wings forward Darren McCarty and Avalanche forward Claude Lemieux fight during the first period on March 26, 1997, at Joe Louis Arena (Photo by Julian H. Gonzalez, Detroit Free Press)

Detroit Red Wings great Darren McCarty may have never been an All-Star or the best player on his team, but he’s considered one of the greatest players in franchise history.

McCarty won four Stanley Cups as a member of the Red Wings, was considered the enforcer of the team at the height of their dynasty at the turn of the millennium, and has endless notable moments during his playing career. Those moments include the game-clinching goal in Game 4 of the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals to end the Red Wings’ 42-year title drought and his infamous fight with the Colorado Avalanche’s Claude Lemieux on March 26, 1997, that turned the tide in the rivalry.

The Fight That Changed Everything

The fight with Lemieux—one of the best playoff performers in NHL history who had won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1995—came about as retribution for his hit on McCarty’s good friend and teammate, Kris Draper, during the previous year’s conference finals matchup. Lemieux showed zero remorse and did not apologize for the hit, despite sending Draper to the hospital with a broken jaw.

It makes matters worse that the Avalanche would defeat the heavily favored Red Wings, who were coming off the NHL’s greatest regular season ever with 62 wins. Colorado would end up winning the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals.

That fight with Lemieux was the biggest one on a night featuring multiple fights, including Detroit’s Igor Larionov and Colorado’s Peter Forsberg, as well as the Red Wings’ Brendan Shanahan against the Avalanche’s Patrick Roy. The game itself featured 18 fighting major penalties and 144 minutes in penalties.

“I scored a Stanley Cup-clinching goal, the only time I ever beat a guy one-on-one; it just happened to be in the Finals,” says McCarty in a one-on-one interview with RG. “I have four cups. But I tell you what, if there’s any one moment, I don’t need to score the goal—but somebody does need to score the goal—but if I had to do anything in my career over again that I want the same way, it’s March 26.”

The funny thing is, not only did McCarty set the tone for that night and what would eventually result in the Red Wings’ Stanley Cup run in 1997, he scored the game-winning goal in overtime on March 26.

Toughness Beyond the Fights

“We didn’t need to have a heavyweight tough guy,” says McCarty. “We were going to stick up for each other, and the toughness of that team was a fact of the resilience all through the lineup. Toughness isn’t about fighting. Toughness is about doing it over and over and over again, and taking the will away from your opponent.”

“That team—out of my four Cup teams—that one was so special,” McCarty continues.

“Obviously it was the first, being from around here (McCarty grew up 40 minutes away in Ontario) and knowing it was the first time in 42 years, it was very special.”

During an episode of Vice TV’s new series, “The Grudge,” McCarty recounts the events of that night and the Red Wings’ epic rivalry against the Avalanche. In what could be considered the NHL’s last true great rivalry, the two Western Conference powers frequently matched up in the playoffs in the late ’90s and early 2000s to determine who would advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Between 1996 and 2002, the Red Wings and Avalanche matched up on five occasions, with Colorado winning three times and Detroit winning twice. The Red Wings and Avalanche combined to win the Stanley Cup five out of those seven years.

McCarty goes into great detail about the fights that took place on March 26, but he says the “attitude” heading into the game wasn’t necessarily about the physicality—it was to win the game.

The Red Wings had lost to the Avalanche all three times in the regular season prior to the matchup.

“The attitude was we have to win this game,” says McCarty. “Because we set the League record, they beat us in the playoffs. We played them three other times in the regular season, and we hadn’t won. As much as you want to get the physicality, it doesn’t mean anything—you have to win the game. Because we had to prove to ourselves that we could defeat these guys.”

Rivalry to Respect

Although the two were hated rivals in the ‘90s, McCarty and Lemieux were both interviewed and talked to each other during ESPN’s “Unrivaled” documentary commemorating the 25th anniversary of the fight. The Red Wings great says the two were cordial to one another and says Lemieux now sees the “error” of his ways from that event. Regardless, Lemieux’s actions changed the trajectory of the rivalry and both organizations.

McCarty says had Lemieux apologized for the fight, the retribution wouldn’t have been as bad as it was when McCarty bloodied Lemieux during the March 26 fight. McCarty punched Lemieux, kneed his head, and banged him up against the boards.

“When you see Unrivaled, when you see different things over time, the person that did it isn’t the same person now,” says McCarty of Lemieux. “He realizes, like a lot of us, sometimes the error in our ways. Regardless, he’s got to live with the fact that he pretty much changed the trajectory of the organizations.”

The 53-year-old says the rivalry between both powerhouses made each of them great. The Avalanche had a number of future Hall of Famers, including Forsberg, Roy, and Joe Sakic, as did the Red Wings, which featured the likes of Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov, and Nicklas Lidstrom.

“If you haven’t seen Unrivaled on ESPN, after you watch The Grudge, go back and watch that,” says McCarty. “This is the best part, never do you get to hear both sides. You only hear from the victors. History is written by the victors. You hear both sides and you gain more respect as a player for the other side. As we get older, I think we mellow a little bit, but we made each other as great as we were because it was that old-school mentality.”

Sports Reporter
DJ Siddiqi is a sports reporter focusing on football, basketball, hockey, baseball and pro wrestling. He has covered major events, including the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, CFP National Championship and WrestleMania, interviewing stars such as Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Previously, Siddiqi was lead NBA writer at CBS Sports and 247 Sports, and an NFL beat reporter covering the Denver Broncos at Bleacher Report.
Interests:
NFL
NBA
NCAAF
NCAAB
NHL
Travel
Interviews

More RG Exclusive Interviews

Hockey
News Report
Jimmy Vesey Weighs KHL Offers as NHL Future Uncertain

NHL veteran Jimmy Vesey is exploring a move to the KHL, with SKA St. Petersburg emerging as a top contender for the 32-year-old forward.

4
07/29/2025
Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Jimmy Vesey Weighs KHL Offers as NHL Future Uncertain
Hockey
Analysis
Top 10 Greatest NHL Players of All Time According to AI

RG asked four AI models to rank the top 10 NHL players ever using a weighted formula. The results reveal both consensus and controversy.

16
07/28/2025
Quinn Allen
Quinn Allen
Top 10 Greatest NHL Players of All Time According to AI
Hockey
Interview
Beckett Sennecke Trusting Ducks’ Plan For His NHL Journey

Beckett Sennecke is coming off a dominant season and says he’s open to whatever path the Anaheim Ducks believe is best for his NHL development.

7
07/26/2025
Andrew Knoll
Andrew Knoll
Beckett Sennecke Trusting Ducks’ Plan For His NHL Journey
Hockey
Interview
Ivan Prosvetov Eyes Flames’ Starting Role, Ready For McDavid

Returning NHL goalie Ivan Prosvetov joins the Calgary Flames on a one-year deal, determined to secure the starter’s job and face star Connor McDavid.

6
07/23/2025
Sergey Demidov
Sergey Demidov
Ivan Prosvetov Eyes Flames’ Starting Role, Ready For McDavid
Prev
...
Next

Hockey Writers

Jim Biringer
Jim Biringer
Reporter

Jim Biringer is a seasoned sports journalist and broadcaster with more than a decade of experience covering the NHL, NFL, and college football. His work has appeared on prominent platforms including SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, The Rod Pedersen Show, and The Raw Mike Richards Show, where he is recognized for his deep sports knowledge, sharp analysis, and ability to distill complex stories with clarity. Renowned for in-depth hockey reporting, Biringer has covered multiple NHL Drafts and was on the ground for the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, delivering trusted and timely insights to fans and industry insiders alike.

Bringing a broad multi-sport perspective, Biringer connects with audiences across the spectrum of sports fandom. He is the creator and host of Full Press Hockey Podcast, Final Word on Hockey, and Around Campus – The College Football Podcast, offering thoughtful breakdowns on topics ranging from NHL trade deadlines to college football playoff scenarios. Whether analyzing a New Jersey Devils power play or evaluating a quarterback battle in the SEC, he approaches every subject with precision and authority.

In addition to traditional sports coverage, Biringer has a strong background in professional wrestling. He has worked with promotions across North America, providing commentary, interviewing talent, and covering events with the same journalistic rigor that defines his broader reporting. His ability to combine wrestling storytelling with behind-the-scenes insight enhances his profile as a versatile and respected media personality.

Widely regarded as a “student of the game,” Biringer is known for his respect for athletes, dedication to factual reporting, and passion for storytelling. Whether on air, online, or reporting live from major sporting events, he consistently delivers compelling, informed, and impactful coverage shaped by years of hands-on experience.

Meet All Our Experts
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Read our
Privacy Policy
.