Carolina at Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Flyers' Vincent Lecavalier fights with the Carolina Hurricanes' Keegan Lowe (45) during the first period at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Thursday, April 9, 2015. The Canes won, 3-1. (Steven M. Falk | Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)

PHILADELPHIA — Flyers right wing Vincent Lecavalier was in front of the Carolina Hurricanes net trying to make something happen Thursday night when teammate Nick Schultz let a blast from the right point go.

Hoping for a redirect or a rebound, Lecavalier instead got flattened with a cross-check to the back late into the first period of the Flyers' 3-1 loss at Wells Fargo Center.

That stuff happens in hockey, even though it illegal and no penalty was called, so the gentlemanly Lecavalier started getting himself back up to go back to work when ...BAM!

Another cross-check to the back knocked him back down again.

Now pretty angry, Lecavalier got himself up quickly, whirled around, gave a little shove and then found in his first fight of the season. And jeez, who was this young kid in red and white whaling away at him like he was hitting a speed bag?

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Before Lecavalier could throw a punch, Canes defenseman Keegan Lowe made himself stand out in his NHL debut. This 22-year-old blueliner, a son to six-time Stanley Cup champ defenseman and current Edmonton Oilers president Kevin Lowe, won this bout by KO.

And then before you knew it, we had an unexpected sequel ... this one started and finished by Lecavalier, who waited for the perfect time and then issued a pummeling payback in the second period.

"It's good to see (Lecavalier) has a wild side to him," Flyers right wing Matt Read said with a chuckle after the game. "No one likes getting cross-checked from behind, especially if you take it in the back of the head or neck."

Unfortunately for Lecavalier, his night of fighting resulted in an upper-body injury that, according to Comcast SportsNet, is a concussion ... one that ends his incredibly disappointing and frustrating season with one game to go.

And because it's well documented that the Flyers would love to move Lecavalier and he'd like to move on, this could be the final memory we have of this 400-goal scorer's two seasons in Philadelphia. His probable final 2014-15 numbers are eight goals, 20 points, 57 games, 17 healthy scratches ... and two fights.

Lecavalier's teammates really appreciated seeing him seek and gain revenge on Lowe.

"Obviously it's good to see Vinny (fight) when the season is basically over and we're out of the playoffs," right wing Jakub Voracek said. "He shows a lot of heart, a lot of character and it's good for him."

Lecavalier, who turns 35 on April 21, hadn't fought since getting into two of them last season and he'd never been in two fights in the same game. In fact, in 14 NHL seasons he'd been in two fights just twice in the same calendar year.

This was his 22nd fight in 1,163 games, first since he threw punches with John Erskine of the Washington Capitals in March 2013.

Lecavalier had a size advantage — he's 6-4 and 215, Lowe is 6-2 and 195 — but he wasn't prepared for his first bout.

What got into Lowe? Again ... this kid was in his very first NHL game and he ends up fighting a guy who rarely fights twice in the first two periods.

"Play hard and play a simple game," Lowe said. "I was by no means out there looking for that. It is what it is and it leaves good memories I guess. A little bit of a reminder."

Lecavalier sure issued a reminder that he didn't forget those cross-checks or being jumped in the first period. When Lecavalier retaliated, he waited until the puck was headed to Lowe at the point and then attacked him in a way that he was issued a two-minute minor for instigating and a 10-misconduct as well five for fighting.

"Well obviously I was surprised," Lowe said. "I mean there's no love lost there. The first time it was just a battle and it ended up happening. By no means I was like 'oh this is Lecavalier'. It ended up happening, and it's hockey right? I mean I have no love loss for him. He's a great a player and he always has been. Like I said, he wanted his lick and he got it. Game's over, we got the win."

Lowe didn't play like an angel, and he didn't sound like one with those post-game quotes. Fighting isn't new to him, either, as he'd been in 16 of them during his two AHL seasons, eight this season.

Now one day into his NHL career, Lowe has two fights and some new enemies in Philadelphia.

"Vinny's earned the right to get respect out there I think," Flyers goalie Ray Emery said. "We felt that he kind of got disrespected, so he took it into his own hands and stuck up for himself."

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com Philadelphia Sports on Facebook.