The 15 Unwritten Rules of the NHL | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
David Schmidt
Published Mar 25, 2026
With a few notable exceptions, NHL fights tend to end after one player is down on the ice.
Yes, sometimes, in a retaliation situation, the beating may go on, but in general, in a "fair fight," once a player is down on the ice and no longer putting up a fight, the beating stops. It is all part of respecting your opponent.
Most enforcers realize that they have a tough job to do, and they are not out to truly hurt their opponent, just to protect their teammates or give their team a lift. That is a big reason for this unwritten rule.
