VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The Canucks and Calgary Flames engaged in a wild first-period brawl Saturday night that carried over to Canucks coach John Tortorella being involved in an altercation in the hallway outside the Flames' dressing room.

The opening minutes of the NHL game, which the Canucks won 3-2 in a shootout, was like a scene from the movie "Slap Shot." It brought back memories of when teams such as the Broad Street Bullies and Big Bad Boston Bruins hit the ice.

The Canucks and Flames dropped their gloves just 2 seconds into play, resulting in 142 penalty minutes in the first 5 minutes of the game. Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY Sports

"I don't think anybody expected that," said Flames defenseman Chris Butler, one of eight players ejected from the game.

"It's been a while since something like that happened, five guys pairing off."

An NHL official told ESPN.com on Sunday morning that the league is investigating the incident.

"Details when and if appropriate," the source said.

For his part, Tortorella will have an in-person hearing with Colin Campbell, the NHL's executive vice president of hockey operations, and other league officials on Monday, a source confirmed to ESPN.com.

The bad blood wasn't confined to the ice. At the end of the first period, CBC, which televised the game, captured Tortorella attempting to go into the Flames' locker room at Rogers Arena. Calgary enforcer Brian McGrattan pushed him away.

Flames goaltender coach Clint Malarchuk came out of the Flames' dressing room after Tortorella and McGrattan were separated. Malarchuk followed Tortorella but was restrained by several members of Calgary's staff and McGrattan.

Much of the altercation appeared off camera, but another camera showed Vancouver defenseman Chris Tanev pulling teammate Alex Burrows back toward the Canucks' dressing room.

Flames coach Bob Hartley was left shaking his head over Tortorella charging his team's dressing room.