Saturday night was one of the best nights of hockey Canadians got to enjoy. Once the nationally televised battle of Ontario ended between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, viewers were treated to the battle of Alberta.
The first matchup of the night had a lead change, strong defense, and was decided in overtime. The second, between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames, was a passion-filled affair that dissolved into an on ice-brawl.
The idea of the two inter-provincial clashes in one evening was an example of the NHL’s attempt to manufacture rivalries in the league.