Friends Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski fight in Columbus Blue Jackets-Detroit Red Wings game

Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski are good friends, having been roommates while playing for the University of Michigan.

In fact, the Detroit Red Wings' Larkin had left tickets for Werenski's parents when the Columbus Blue Jackets came to town on Monday afternoon.

But when emotions flared late in the Blue Jackets' 3-2 win, they found themselves fighting.

Werenski checked Detroit's Bobby Ryan into the net in the final minute after he said he saw Ryan slash Blue Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo.

Red Wings and Blue Jackets players went after each other.

"I was kind of late to the pile," Larkin told reporters. "I didn't like it, and I think as I tried to jump in, I elbowed Zach, and that didn't make him happy, and we fought."

They threw a couple punches, but also smiled at each other.

"We were laughing a little," Werenski said. "We weren’t holding back. I was trying to win the fight, and I think he was as well."

Werenski said his phone was blowing up after the game with texts from his friends.

"I'm going to have to get a picture of it blown up and framed in my house," he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL friends Dylan Larkin, Zach Werenski fight as tempers flare late