The Anaheim Ducks-Los Angeles Kings rivalry is alive and well.

Less than three minutes into the first period, three fights broke out within a span of four seconds of play.

The combatants?

• Kurtis MacDermid vs. Jared Boll
• Andy Andreoff vs. Kevin Bieksa
• Kyle Clifford vs. Nick Ritchie

Here's how it all went down:

It all amounted to a unique box score:

(Courtesy: NHL.com)

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The Colorado Avalanche are the comeback kids.

A win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday gave the Avalanche 49 points on the season, one more than they finished with in a disastrous 2016-17 campaign.

Related: How the Avalanche rose from rock bottom to playoff contention

Last year was the worst full-season finish since the first year of the Atlanta Thrashers, when the former club finished with 39 points.

But it's been a big turnaround in Colorado this year, led by a rejuvenated Nathan MacKinnon and a sensational sophomore showing from Mikko Rantanen.

The Avalanche now own a 23-16-3 record and sit just two points shy of a playoff position.

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In the first meeting between the top two picks from the 2017 NHL Draft, it was a high pick from 2011 who came up big.

First overall pick Nico Hischier and the New Jersey Devils hosted second selection Nolan Patrick and the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

Sean Couturier - the eighth overall pick in 2011 - stole the show, however, scoring two goals and adding an assist to maintain a streak of red-hot play.

Couturier now has 25 goals and 45 points through 42 games, both of which are already new single-season highs for the 25-year-old center.

As for the rookies, Hischier held the advantage over Patrick despite his team taking the loss:

These two clubs will square off again shortly, with round two set for Jan. 20 in Philadelphia.

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A scary scene developed late in the second period of Saturday's game between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens.

Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara fired a slap shot that struck Canadiens center Phillip Danault in the side of the head.

Danault dropped to the ice, and was eventually stretchered off after a lengthy examination and deliberation by team doctors. The incident occurred with 1:37 left in the frame. Players were sent off for an early intermission.

Chara, it should be noted, waited by Danault's side as he was being tended to and offered a quiet word as he was leaving the ice.

Jim Hughson of "Hockey Night in Canada" reported Chara's shot was measured at 123 kilometers per hour - or 76.4 mph.

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The Arizona Coyotes could be one of the busier sellers ahead of the Feb. 26 trade deadline.

It's been a miserable season in the desert, as the Coyotes have languished in the basement, having won just 10 of 44 games.

That means change is in order, and blue-liners Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Niklas Hjalmarsson could be wearing different jerseys come March, reports Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.

It's a steep asking price for Ekman-Larsson, with Coyotes general manager John Chayka seeking two top-flight roster players in addition to a first-round draft choice for the star blue-liner.

On a poor performing Coyotes team, Ekman-Larsson has recorded 19 points in 44 games this season and is a key piece of the team's leadership core following the retirement of former captain Shane Doan.

Signed through next season, a trade for Ekman-Larsson ahead of this year's trade deadline means the acquiring team would get the Swedish defenseman for two playoff runs before his contract expires. The Coyotes used the same selling point when they dealt Keith Yandle to the New York Rangers ahead of the 2015 trade deadline.

Meanwhile, the Coyotes are also shopping Hjalmarsson. The three-time Stanley Cup champion has had little time to make an impact in Arizona after he was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks last offseason, as a series of injuries have limited Hjalmarsson to just 18 games this year.

Like Ekman-Larsson, Hjalmarsson is signed through 2018-19, though his cap hit comes in slightly lower, as he's owed $4.1 million.

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The NHL's iconic Winter Classic is zeroing in on the Sunshine State, and it's possible the Tampa Bay Lightning could host the event in the coming years.

"Tampa is absolutely on the shorter list of places that we're considering (for an outdoor game)," NHL executive vice president Steve Mayer told Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "I think given the stadium, given the team, given the market, I think it's a great candidate."

The sites for the 2020 and 2021 outdoor games will be announced this offseason. The Lightning would play at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL's Buccaneers, which seats more than 65,000 fans.

The team ranks sixth in NHL attendance this season, averaging more than 19,000 fans a game at Amalie Arena, according to ESPN.

Related - Bettman: Outdoor game at NC State 'not out of the question'

Tampa's hosting the 2018 All-Star Game in February.

A staple on the league calendar since 2008, the NHL schedules multiple outdoor games each year. Two have already taken place this season - in Ottawa and New York City, respectively - and a third is set for Annapolis, Md., in March.

Two previous games were held in warmer climates - Los Angeles in 2014 and Santa Clara, Calif., in 2015 - and potential weather challenges won't deter the NHL.

"The way we're doing the ice (for outdoor games) has changed and evolved over the years. It can handle extremes," Mayer added. "You can never play an afternoon game. But nighttime (in Tampa) it gets cool and could easily handle an outdoor game."

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Mathew Barzal now tops the rookie charts.

The New York Islanders sensation moved to No. 1 in the rookie scoring race Saturday following a five-point outing against the rival New York Rangers.

It's the second time this season Barzal has recorded a five-point game after he tallied five assists against the Colorado Avalanche in a November contest. He picked up two goals and three assists Saturday to bring his total to 44 points on the season.

Saturday's showing saw Barzal leapfrog Vancouver Canucks rookie Brock Boeser for the top spot. Boeser has recorded 40 points on the year, a safe distance ahead of Arizona Coyotes first-year winger, Clayton Keller, who sits third with 33 points.

As for Barzal, the freshman trails only John Tavares and Josh Bailey in team scoring, who stand at 52 and 50 points, respectively.

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J.T. Brown's time with the Tampa Bay Lightning may be drawing to a close.

The club put the right winger on waivers Saturday, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Brown has four points in 24 games this season, scoring his only goal on Nov. 12.

He's been a healthy scratch multiple times and has averaged a career-low 9:22 in ice time in 2017-18.

Brown is a pending unrestricted free agent carrying a cap hit of $1.25 million, according to CapFriendly.

He became the first NHL player to peacefully protest during the U.S. national anthem this season when he stood with his fist raised during the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before a game on Oct. 7.

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