Just days ago, an incensed Corey Perry spoke to the media about how disappointed he was in himself about the lack of response to hits on Edmonton Oilers goaltenders.

His words after Stuart Skinner was forced from a game against the Dallas Stars can be boiled down to him saying “I should never let that happen,” and that there would be an internal discussion about how the team handles opposing teams in their goaltenders’ grills.

Well, it all came to a head on Saturday night when the Calgary Flames visited Rogers Place.

The first period was physical between both sides with both teams laying a few questionable hits, but things boiled over late in the second period. Flames forward Joel Farabee got a breakaway with under a minute left in the period, firing a shot on Calvin Pickard, before Mikael Backlund gave him a snow shower.

There was instant gesticulating between players from both teams right away, including with Perry getting into the mix. Things seemed to cool fairly quickly, as the Sportsnet broadcast cut to replays, but that didn’t last long, as something occured that sent Perry off the rails.

It resulted in Perry shaking himself loose from a referee, pulling Backlund from a crowd, and feeding him punches.

The Oilers would end up shorthanded out of the mix, as Perry and Kasperi Kapanen both got roughing penalties, while Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson got a roughing call of his own.

Things didn’t quite end there, as both teams were chipring back and forth heading down their respective tunnels for the second intermission.

For the Oilers, this was exactly the kind of response they needed in a moment like this — justified or not. Too many times this year opposing teams have taken liberties against their goaltenders, with other notable incidents happening against the Flames earlier this year, when Backlund slashed at Skinner, the Philadelphia Flyers days later and the Winnipeg Jets just weeks ago.

Maybe a Battle of Alberta is just what this team needs.

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.