What happened: Brady Tkachuk and Nikita Zadorov dropped their gloves immediately following the opening faceoff. The two squared off before any sustained play could develop, engaging in a center-ice bout seconds into the contest.

Why it matters: The opening-draw altercation sets an aggressive tone early while taking two central physical presences off the ice to serve fighting penalties. Both skaters drive physical momentum for their lineups, and an immediate scrap raises the competitive intensity for the remainder of the game.

What to watch: Watch for how the early penalty minutes shift line combinations and whether physical tension carries over into subsequent shifts.