A. J. Greer sounds off on his fight with Wayne Simmonds

The Boston Bruins were able to avoid a season-high 4th straight loss last night, as they took down their Original 6 and Atlantic Division rival Toronto Maple Leafs by a 5-2 final score at Scotiabank Arena in downtown Toronto. 

Despite forward Calle Jarnkrok tallying midway through the third period to cut Boston's lead to a single goal, it wouldn't be long before they'd come right back to restore the double digit lead; Bruins forward Pavel Zacha would light the lamp twice in the third period, while Derek Forbort would score shorthanded in the game's middle frame. 

However, it was grinding 4th line forward A.J. Greer who would be credited with the winning goal, his 5th time lighting the lamp in Boston's storybook season. And then, he would go viral for dropping the gloves against Toronto's scrappy veteran Wayne Simmonds. And while he would catch a strong right fist to the face from Simmonds that required a short stay in the "Quiet Room", he would eventually return to the game before the final buzzer.

And according to Greer, he was more than happy to oblige in the fight.

“I think it was he asked for it and I just had some adrenaline from the goal I had just scored so I don’t know,” said Greer to reporters postgame. “It wasn’t the best decision because we were up 3-1 but it’s hard for me to say no. I’m someone who competes hard, and I don’t know, I just want the upper edge all the time.

“I didn’t even think twice, I just said, ‘Yeah.’ When I tried to hit him at first, I didn’t get a grip on him, so it was hard for me to come back cause he has a long reach. But I protected myself and nothing came from it. He had that reach against me so it was just a matter of making sure that I was gonna be safe in that situation but I just thought that I couldn’t say no to [the fight] just cause of the emotions I was going through.”

The Bruins are now off until Saturday, February 11 when they return to action at home against the Washington Capitals.