Sawyer a Charter Member of Fight Club

BOSTON -- Fights during games have decreased thus far this season.

Yet, everyone seems to be waiting for Mighty Duck left wing Kevin Sawyer to come to town.

Saturday in Edmonton: George Laraque fought Sawyer after the Ducks scored a goal. It was Laraque’s first fight of the season.

Monday in Toronto: Tie Domi and Sawyer scrapped in what was Domi’s first fight.

It was also the Maples Leafs’ first fighting major of the season.

Tuesday in Montreal: Stephane Quintal picked up the Canadiens’ first fighting major when he battled Sawyer.

Little wonder why Sawyer ranks second in the NHL with 53 penalty minutes.

“I looked at the stats and saw George had only eight penalty minutes, so he hadn’t fought yet,” Sawyer said. “Then we got to Toronto and saw Tie hadn’t fought yet. So I figured both times there was a good chance.”

Fighting is slightly down this season, from 1.4 fighting majors a game last season to 1.3 through Monday’s games. The faster faceoffs and the crackdown on obstruction are two reasons given for the drop in fights.

“I don’t think there is any time to fight now,” Duck General Manager Bryan Murray said. “What happened before between faceoffs, players had a chance to go back and forth with each other. The increase in penalties for obstruction means there is less of a need for it. Before, good players were being confronted and held up, so the protectors felt they had to go protect.”

Sawyer sees that the enforcer role is changing.

“I think 10 years ago, you could get away with just being an enforcer in this league,” Sawyer said. “That’s not true now. You have to be able to play defense, skate and check.

“Ice time is too important to a guy in my spot to just get into fights.”

Underscoring that point is Sawyer’s ability to draw penalties, which he has done in each of the Ducks’ last three games.

“That’s like getting an assist for a guy like me,” Sawyer said.

*

The Ducks will see two former teammates tonight, Marty McInnis and Steve Shields.

McInnis spent most of four seasons with the Ducks before being traded to Boston last March. “I think it will be fun to see the guys,” McInnis said. “It’s going to be a good time.”

McInnis, who was born in Massachusetts and played at Boston College, has two goals and four points this season.

Traded to the Bruins during the off-season, Shields has become the No. 1 goalie. He has a 3-0-2 record with a 2.28 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.

Tim Thomas was in goal for Boston in Wednesday’s 7-2 victory over Washington.

TONIGHT

at Boston, 4 PST

Fox Sports Net 2

Site -- Fleet Center.

Radio -- KPLS (830), 7 p.m. (delayed).

Records -- Ducks 2-5-3-0; Bruins 6-1-2-0.

Record vs. Bruins (2001-02) -- 0-1-1-0.

Update -- The Bruins are shopping defenseman Kyle McLaren, who is an unsigned restricted free agent, and have had talks with Atlanta.