Stanley Cup playoffs 2026: Brady Tkachuk, Jordan Staal fight 3 seconds into Game 1 of Senators-Hurricanes series

No fighting in the Stanley Cup playoffs? Apparently, no one told the Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk and Carolina Hurricanes’ Jordan Staal.

As the puck dropped for Game 1 of their first-round NHL playoff matchup, the two team captains dropped their gloves right after the opening faceoff and began tussling three seconds into the contest.

A FIGHT TO START THE PLAYOFFS‼️

Brady Tkachuk and Jordan Staal immediately dropped the gloves 😳 pic.twitter.com/LBokHjzq6B

Tkachuk appeared to have the advantage initially, connecting with a couple of right-handed punches. But Staal shook off those blows and countered with an upper cut, then followed with a punch that knocked Tkachuk to the ice. From there, officials stepped in and separated the two captains.

Perhaps it’s a consolation that Tkachuk won the opening faceoff.

The remainder of the first period was relatively anti-climactic after that opening tussle with the Senators and Hurricanes tied 0-0. But Carolina took a 1-0 lead two minutes into the second period with Logan Stankoven scoring on a wrist shot.