As if there was any doubt.

The Oilers’ highest-rated fight of the year came this year, when Vasily Podkolzin knocked out Nashville Predators defenceman Jeremy Lauzon on Halloween.

Podkolzin had worked his way to being a fan favourite early this season after being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks this summer. But that hit another level when he fought Lauzon. The Oilers were up 4-1 four minutes into the third period, and with Edmonton in on the forecheck, Podkolzin hit the blueliner behind the Predators net.

Lauzon would come back with hit of his own, getting his hands on high on Podkolzin, who clearly didn’t like it. AFter exchanging a few words, the two tied up. Lauzon opened with a few chopping right hands, but that would be all he would get.

Podkolzin responded with three hard right hands, the second of which wobbled Lauzon’s legs, as the third set him plummeting to the ice. Lauzon wasn’t knocked out cold, but he was certainly cleaned up in the scrap. Credit to Podkolzin in this fight, too, as he helped Lauzon to the ice, negating his head from potentially hitting the ice.

Hockey Fights viewers saw what we all did: a clean win for Podkolzin, who received all 81 votes as the winner.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist, making up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.

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