Kovalchuk, Leafs’ White in war of words

Toronto — Circle Dec. 22 on your calendar. There might be some fireworks at Philips Arena the next time the Thrashers’ Ilya Kovalchuk and the Maple Leafs’ Ian White set skate on the same ice.

The two fought Tuesday night during the Thrashers’ 6-3 victory and conducted a war of words afterward through the media.

White called Kovalchuk “selfish” for going after him and taking a double-minor that could have hurt Atlanta. Kovalchuk said he was just finishing what White started.

White’s version: “I finished my check off. Clean hit. And then he took a run at me on the far blue [line]. So I followed him up the ice, I was saying something to him, and he stopped, and I wasn’t expecting that, obviously. I was protecting myself. That’s the ugly part of the game. He’ll get what’s coming to him.”

Responded Kovalchuk: “Whatever he wants to say. The score on the board, we win. We get two points [in the standings]. We’ve got three games [left] against them, so if he’s got something he wants to say, I’m always ready to answer.”