Must Watch: Filip Forsberg Earns First Fighting Major in 4 Years

Filip Forsberg scored the game-winning goal in the Nashville Predators' 1-0 shutout of the Detroit Red Wings on March 23, but that wasn't his only contribution.

During the second period of the game, still in a scoreless tie, Forsberg found himself in a tussle on the glass that led him to drop the gloves with Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider.

Forsberg earned the third fighting major of his NHL career and first in four years. His last fight came on Feb. 15, 2020 against Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues. His first career fight was against Vancouver Canucks defenseman Jake Virtanen on March 12, 2016.

“It was nothing special, really,” Forsberg said when asked what prompted the tilt with Seider. “I was just battling with the guy a couple of times. He's a good player, obviously, so we're playing hard against each other. [It was a] heat of the moment type of thing."

Forsberg and Seider exchanged several blows in a bout that lasted more than 20 seconds. When asked how he would grade his fight, Forsberg sheepishly smiled and conceded defeat to the 6-foot-3, 205-pound defenseman.

“I started out decently,” Forsberg chuckled. “Then [Seider] took over. He’s a big boy, so I guess I could’ve tried to pick somebody in my weight class.”

“I definitely [prefer scoring goals to dropping the gloves],” Forsberg said. “But sometimes you’ve got to do that, too. Obviously, I pick my times for sure.”

Forsberg leads the Predators with 39 goals on the season, and the Predators would rather not lose their top offensive player for five minutes of action. Still, the tilt fired up the home crowd at Bridgestone Arena and helped light a fire under Forsberg's Predators teammates.

“You’ve got to appreciate the emotion he has and the care he has in our group,” Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. “He’s willing to do anything for our team and he hung in there and he got the last laugh with a big goal for us.”