Canucks, Flames exchange boarding penalties in chippy second period

Thursday’s matchup between the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames started to get chippy in the second period, with the teams exchanging boarding penalties.

Both incidents played out in nearly identical situations.

Less than a minute into the middle frame, Canucks forward Elias Pettersson was hit awkwardly into the boards by Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar.

Initially assessed a major penalty, the play was reviewed and downgraded to a two-minute minor for boarding.

Pettersson went to the Canucks’ locker room but returned to the bench shortly after.

Four minutes later, another boarding call was made — this time against Canucks defenceman Elias Pettersson, who hit Flames forward Connor Zary.

Perhaps it was retaliation for Weegar’s earlier hit on his teammate, or perhaps payback for