It's been a frustrating season for both the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames, and perhaps a bit of that frustration boiled over when the Alberta rivals faced off Saturday.
With both the Oilers and Flames eliminated from playoff contention in season in which the geographical and Pacific Division rivals each expected to qualify for the postseason, a late regular season matchup left nothing to play for but improved lottery odds.
Midway through the third period, tempers flared when Oilers forward Milan Lucic and Flames goaltender Mike Smith got into it, with punches being thrown and legs being chopped at as the two large men went at it near the crease.
Mike Smith and Milan Lucic getting after each other. pic.twitter.com/98q3wE1YlI
— Evan Sporer (@ev_sporer) April 1, 2018
Lucic and Smith have each had frustrating seasons in their own rights. Lucic, who is in the second season of a seven-year, $42-million contract, has scored 10 goals, but none in his past 12 games, and one in his past 42.
Smith was having a great season for Calgary before he sustained a lower-body injury in the closing seconds of a win Feb. 11 against the New York Islanders. The Flames were in eighth place when Smith left the lineup, and when he returned a month later, after going 5-6-2 in his absence, slipped to 10th in the West. Since Smith was out with that injury, Calgary has gone 7-14-2, and entered play Saturday on a seven-game losing streak.
Lucic came out on the wrong end of that exchange, taking the slash and a blocker from Smith, and also being called for four penalty minutes (two minutes for slashing Mark Giordano, and two minutes for roughing Smith) while Smith received the lone Calgary penalty, a roughing minor against Lucic.
After serving his time in the box, Lucic exited and was immediately challenged by Flames enforcer Tanner Glass. Lucic obliged, his fourth fight of the season, and got the better of Glass, catching him with a right hand that bloodied the 6-foot-1 pugilist.
Lucic gets out of the box, Tanner Glass challenges his, and Lucic opens him up with one punch. pic.twitter.com/91GKYSLIeD
— Evan Sporer (@ev_sporer) April 1, 2018
The Flames ended up winning the game 3-2 behind 34 Smith saves, and a goal and assist by Mikael Backlund. The 60-minute contest also produced 46 penalty minutes.