Watch: Flames, Wild fight 3 times to avenge hits in previous meeting

Neither the Calgary Flames nor the Minnesota Wild were shy about renewing hostilities Saturday.

The clubs engaged in a trio of tussles in the first period of the matinee matchup, facing each other for the first time since a heated affair on Dec. 6.

Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk challenged Wild defenseman Matt Dumba to a tilt in the opening minute Saturday, in response to Dumba's massive hit on Calgary's Mikael Backlund that injured the Swede near the end of their previous meeting.

With under two minutes remaining in the frame, Wild grinder Matt Hendricks took on Flames blue-liner Mark Giordano, who served a two-game suspension for kneeing Mikko Koivu.

Then, Minnesota rearguard Ryan Suter and Calgary center Sam Bennett got into it under 30 seconds later.