BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Sabres forward Tage Thompson settled whatever lingering differences he had with Stefan Noesen by squaring off against the New Jersey forward on the ice on Friday.

The fight occurred 2 1/2 minutes into Buffalo’s game against New Jersey and some nine months after Noesen leveled Thompson with an elbow to the head. It was the teams’ first meeting since Buffalo’s 4-3 win on Feb. 2.

As the teams lined up Friday for a faceoff in the Buffalo zone 2 1/2 minutes in, Thompson and Noesen dropped their gloves and exchanged numerous punches in a fight that lasted about 30 seconds. It ended with Noesen falling to the ice and the crowd cheering on Thompson.

Both players were issued five-minute majors for fighting.

Noesen’s February hit on Thompson became a sore spot for several re

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