The Detroit Red Wings know all about playing the Ottawa Senators, a divisional foe who has seemed to have their number in recent years.
The good news for the Red Wings is that they avenged their 2-1 loss back in December to the Senators by beating them 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday night; Patrick Kane netted the game-winner in OT:
Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, known for getting hot-headed and playing a physical brand of hockey, was at it again tonight in Ottawa's game against the Buffalo Sabres.
He leveled Sabres forward Jason Zucker from behind in what can only be described as a dirty hit; Zucker was hurt and needed help getting off the ice.
Tkachuk was issued a 2-minute minor penalty for charging, but could be facing stiffer punishment if the NHL Department of Player Safety decides to review the incident.
Games between the Red Wings and Senators have gotten increasingly violent in recent years.
Fans still remember well the shellacking both on the scoreboard and physically that the Red Wings took in consecutive games in late February 2023 that essentially sealed their fate of not being a postseason team.
During one of the games, Tkachuk taunted the Red Wings bench and invited the players to challenge him physically.
And naturally, fans could never forget the scary scene in December of last year when captain Dylan Larkin lay unconscious on the ice after taking a hit to the back of his head from now-former Senators player Mathieu Joseph.