Trent Frederic dropped the gloves with Ryan Lindgren in the first period Saturday night, and the Edmonton Oilers had history with the Seattle Kraken defenseman.
Gino Hard pointed out that it came months after Lindgren's illegal check to the head of Evan Bouchard at the World Championships.
Playing for the United States, he got a five-minute major and a game misconduct on that play against Canada's Bouchard on May 28.
The graphic in the clip showed Edmonton up 1-0 with 9:46 on the first-period clock.
The clip cuts to Mike Babcock standing behind the bench in a dark suit, with Leon Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin sitting in front of him.
Whether or not Frederic was settling a summer score, Edmonton had every reason to make Lindgren's night uncomfortable.
It's running into the guy who dented your car in a grocery store parking lot, months later, in your own driveway.
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Ryan Lindgren's history with Evan Bouchard goes back to the Worlds
Gino Hard said Bouchard was injured on that play last spring.
Is this how Edmonton wants to answer? Bouchard's numbers are already doing plenty of the talking, with eight points through two games.
He carries a $10,500,000 cap hit and is exactly the kind of player any team protects.
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Podkolzin has three goals of his own, two of them on the power play.
Frederic, 28, has a goal through two games on a $3,850,000 cap hit.
Lindgren is also 28, carries a $4,500,000 cap hit and was a +2 in Seattle's opener.
The Oilers came in 1-0-1 after allowing 13 goals in two games, and Babcock pinned that on coaching. They're also without Frederik Andersen until at least December, per The Hockey Writers.
Lane Lambert's Kraken came in 1-0-0 after a 6-1 win in Calgary, with Vince Dunn putting up three points.
The Oilers head to Anaheim on Wednesday, while the Kraken host Calgary on Sunday and Vegas on Tuesday.
Frederic made his point early. If Lindgren goes anywhere near Bouchard the rest of the night, it won't stay a one-time thing.
Was Trent Frederic right to make Ryan Lindgren answer for the hit on Evan Bouchard?
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