NHL scores 2016: Connor McDavid is all grown up after creating his first real NHL feud

There are certain moments in a child’s first years you never forget.

The moment they learn to walk. The moment they first say your name. The moment they score their first goal. The moment they begin their first NHL feud.

You know, the staples of early childhood.

Conner McDavid finally hit the fourth milestone on Thursday, just months after earning the captaincy of the Edmonton Oilers. McDavid finished with a point and an assist, but his team lost to the streaking Philadelphia Flyers.

It was a thrilling game, but McDavid’s beef with third-pairing Flyers defenseman Brandon Manning overshadowed all of it. You see, Manning was the player who knocked McDavid out for four months last season.

And McDavid remembered. The two jostled early. McDavid scored, then cussed Manning out. They then wrestled through the media afterwards.

Indeed. Forget about who’s right in all of this. That part is dumb. Either McDavid has a thin skin or Manning said something truly awful on the ice. Or neither happened. Or both happened. We’ll never know, and it doesn’t matter.

What should matter is that McDavid is proving to be a multifaceted superstar: one who can do magical things with ease but also hold grudges, show emotion and let his confidence feed into everyone else and the storylines we love to consume with our sports.

Maybe it’s just his youth. But we hope it lasts.

Canucks 5, Lightning 1

Rangers 2, Jets 1

Islanders 3, Blues 2

Canadiens 5, Devils 2

Stars 5, Predators 2

Flames 2, Coyotes 1 (OT)

Avalanche 4, Bruins 2

Flyers 6, Oilers 5

Penguins 5, Panthers 1

Hurricanes 3, Kings 1

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1. The Stars are still capable of fun

That’s something we haven’t been able to say this season. Ravaged by injuries and under-performing players, Lindy Ruff started his blender again and put Jason Spezza, Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin on the top line together again. The result was five goals, a huge division win and a lot of pretty things like this:

2. Florida goalies broke

This didn’t help.

Bishop was pulled in Tampa Bay’s 5-2 loss to Vancouver, which might be the worst team in the NHL. Meanwhile, the Penguins put three goals in on their first five shots on Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo.

Not great.

3. Max Domi is just happy to be here

So, at first, this Carey Price chaos was pretty fun to watch. As all crazy goalie outbursts are. They’re a zany bunch.

And his outburst came out of nowhere. And it was so ... violent.

Kind of funny, right? Well, no. Because it turns out Price’s first punch was right to the back of Palmieri’s head, which should’ve sent him to the locker room. Palmieri didn’t hold any hard feelings, obviously, but considering the missed rule you wonder if the NHL will weigh in on this.