The spirited affair was physical from the puck drop, but intensity ramped up considerably in the final frame, with the familiar foes engaging in multiple fights.
Although Nazem Kadri and Brandon Carlo had already dropped the gloves earlier in the game, things started getting out of hand after Zach Hyman caught Charlie McAvoy, who was playing just his second game since returning from a lengthy concussion absence, with a late hit in the corner.
Hyman immediately had to answer to Matt Grzelcyk before being assessed a five minute major for interference, while McAvoy missed a few shifts before returning to the bench.
Hiring Ken Hitchcock may be Peter Chiarelli's best move as general manager of the Edmonton Oilers.
The Oilers are 6-2-1 under Hitchcock, and 6-1-1 when Connor McDavid has been in the lineup. Under former head coach Todd McLellan, Edmonton was 9-10-1.
Hitchcock has implemented a few changes, but none bigger than ingraining his low-support system into the minds of his players. Edmonton's forwards are coming lower with and without the puck in the defensive zone, and it's paying dividends.
Here's a screenshot from the Oilers' final game under McLellan - a 6-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. When Vegas has the puck behind the net, Edmonton's wingers Zack Kassian (No. 44) and Jujhar Khaira (No. 16) are hanging high in the zone while defending the point. That leaves a Golden Knights skater wide open in the slot.
NHL.com
In Edmonton's most recent game - a 7-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Friday - there was a noticeable change. When Minnesota has the puck behind the net, all five Oilers skaters are camped below the hash marks, prohibiting the Wild from making a dangerous pass into the slot.
NHL.com
Hitchcock's low-support system is also leading to some significant changes when the Oilers have the puck.
During one sequence in McLellan's last game, Darnell Nurse brought the puck up the ice. Leon Draisaitl is at the bottom of the screenshot below as he waits for a pass that can't be made because an off-screen Golden Knights player is lurking in the neutral zone.
McDavid is also off the screen waiting in the neutral zone for a pass. With no open outlets, Nurse takes a few more strides before he's forced to dump the puck, resulting in an icing.
NHL.com
Under Hitchcock, the Oilers' forwards are taught to support the defensemen on the breakout. Here, blue-liner Adam Larsson wins the puck battle, then Draisaitl retrieves the loose biscuit, and he hits a swooping McDavid in stride for an easy breakout with the club's best player leading the charge.
NHL.com
Getting Edmonton's forwards the puck earlier during the breakout is key. The Oilers don't have any defensemen who thrive while skating with the puck from zone to zone, or while making long stretch passes - which is what McLellan was asking out of his blue-liners.
McDavid, meanwhile, is arguably the best puck carrier in the NHL, as evidenced by his league-leading 248 controlled zone entries, according to The Point Hockey. Second-line center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also excels at skating from zone to zone with the puck.
The improvements after Hitchcock's changes have been substantial. Under McLellan, the Oilers were out shot at 5-on-5 nine times in 20 games, but with Hitchcock they've been out shot at 5-on-5 just once, and it was by a single shot during Friday's drubbing of the Wild, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Yet, the most important result of the schematic changes is the impact on the Oilers' goaltending. Here's a look at the performances of Mikko Koskinen and Cam Talbot since Hitchcock took over:
Stat
Mikko Koskinen
Cam Talbot
GP
4-1-1
2-1-0
GAA
1.82
2.29
SV%
.934
.925
The Oilers still severely lack forward depth and mobility on the back end. But by getting his players to buy into his system - and giving his star player more ice time - Hitchcock has Edmonton trending in the right direction, with the team sitting just one point out of the playoffs.
The Anaheim Ducks signed general manager Bob Murray to a two-year extension, the team announced Saturday, putting him under contract through the 2021-22 season.
"Bob has created a winning organization with his commitment and expertise," said Ducks Chief Executive Officer Michael Schulman. "We are very pleased to be in a position where expectations are high virtually every season, thanks in large part to Bob and his staff. We passionately share a common goal - bringing another Stanley Cup to Orange County."
Murray has worked in the Ducks' front office since 2005, serving as the general manger since 2008. He's been a finalist for GM of the Year three times, winning in 2013-14.
The Ottawa Senators placed forwards Matt Duchene and Bobby Ryan on injured reserve, the team announced Saturday. Duchene is considered week to week with a groin injury, while Ryan is out indefinitely with a concussion.
Duchene had been on pace for a career year, currently leading the Senators with 34 points in 29 games. Colin White and Chris Tierney will likely see increased roles while Ottawa's top center is sidelined.
Ryan has battled injuries throughout his time in the nation's capital, missing 20 games in each of the past two years. The injuries have hindered his production, as he hasn't surpassed 35 points since 2015-16. He was on track for a bounce-back campaign this season, registering 18 points in 29 games.
The Senators are last in the Atlantic Division with a 12-14-3 record.
The Wild ruled out Koivu for Friday's game in Edmonton, and he flew home to Minnesota to be evaluated for injury following Thursday's 2-0 loss, general manager Paul Fenton confirmed.
Koivu's registered 21 points through 27 games for Minnesota so far while eating up over 18 minutes per night and winning 56 percent of his draws.
Giordano, on the other hand, has played Norris Trophy-caliber hockey in 2018-19. The 35-year-old is tied for second among all NHL defenseman with 29 points and owns a Corsi For of 57 percent while anchoring the Flames' top pairing.
Manning was signed this offseason to a two-year, $4.5-million contract, while Rutta is in his second season with the team after signing a one-year, $2.25-million extension earlier this year.
The two have combined for just three goals and nine points this season, and, given their respective cap hits, Powers' source believes that the Blackhawks would take anything in return in a trade for either of them simply to get their salaries off the books.
Chicago currently has just under $5 million in cap space.
McDavid played 28 minutes in the Oilers' shootout victory over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, and apparently, that type of workload won't be an outlier.
"I think we can play him 25-plus because he plays at 5-on-5 and on the power play," Hitchcock told reporters Friday. "It's a whole different animal if you're killing penalties."
Hitchcock added that McDavid being an "effortless skater" is also a major reason why he'll be able to handle "24-25 minutes a lot."
McDavid has seen a noticeable increase in his ice time since Todd McLellan was fired.
Stat
McLellan
Hitchcock
GP
20
7
ATOI
22:13
24:34
Following Hitchcock's first game behind the Oilers' bench, he marveled at McDavid's stamina.
"His recovery rate, cardio-wise, is astounding," Hitchcock said. "He's able to get back up to speed quickly. That's something we've got to take advantage of. He can come out every second shift if it stays 5-on-5."
The Oilers are 5-2-1 since Hitchcock replaced McLellan, and 5-1-1 with McDavid in the lineup.
