Kurtis Gabriel cross-checks MacDermid in the back during warmups as he marks Sharks territory!

San Jose Sharks’ Kurtis Gabriel felt like fighting even before the game was on. 

On Monday night, Gabriel skated along the red line to make sure no player from the Los Angeles Kings enter his territory. 

And Kings’ Kurtis MacDermid dared to do so… Gabriel did not appreciate the move and cross-checked him in the back in order to push him back onto his side. Physical contact in warmups is a no-no. Check it out: 

It was only a matter of time then for the two players to fight in the game. They dropped the gloves with 10:52 remaining in the first period.

It is the first time Gabriel has chirped his opponent before fighting them during the game. He did the same thing with Vegas Golden Knights’ Ryan Reaves and St. Louis Blues winger Kyle Clifford, jawing them before puck drop and then dropping gloves. 

In last night’s case, the funny thing is that Gabriel and MacDermid were teammates on the Owen Sound Attack for parts of three seasons from 2011-12 through 2013-14.

UPDATE: The NHL announced today that Gabriel has been fined $3,017.24, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and that Sharks head coach Bob Boughner has been fined $5,000 following an altercation prior to NHL Game No. 503 in San Jose on Monday, March 22.