It took just one shift for John Carlson to get back into the thick of it after missing all three round-robin games due to injury.

Carlson scrapped with Anders Lee after the Islanders’ forward nailed Nicklas Backstrom with a blindside hit.

Video

#ALLCAPS John Carlson and #Isles Anders Lee drop the gloves … pic.twitter.com/dL2RNH1HSc

— Here’s Your Replay ⬇️ (@TheReplayGuy) August 12, 2020

The play started when Backstrom, with his head turned, got nailed in the chest by Lee.

John Carlson and Anders Lee drop the 🥊’s#NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/UQ5Jobayqw

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 12, 2020

Carlson didn’t appreciate this, so he attempted to tackle Lee. The two exchanged a couple of punches before hugging and being broken up by officials.

John Carlson did not appreciate this Anders Lee hit on Nicklas Backstrom. NO ONE TOUCH OUR NICKE pic.twitter.com/ix65QKJbIg

— Ian Oland (@ianoland) August 12, 2020

Lee got a minor penalty for interference on the Backstrom hit. He also received matching minors for roughing with Carlson since the fight was not much more than grappling. Tom Wilson fought Lee at the end of the period.

The opening minutes of the Game One featured a bunch of roughing penalties as each team tried to assert itself physically.

The first period isn’t seven minutes old and a total of five roughing penalties have been doled out. #Caps

— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) August 12, 2020

Just about every whistle featured pushing and shoving.

Alex Ovechkin laughing at Matt Martin pic.twitter.com/oA4Oe8G2PT

— Ian Oland (@ianoland) August 12, 2020

This should be one entertaining series.

Tom Wilson: two minutes for violent spooning pic.twitter.com/txc4OH5iNw

— Ian Oland (@ianoland) August 12, 2020

Full RMNB Coverage of WSH/NYI Game One

Screenshot courtesy of NBC Sports Washington