Brady Tkachuk vs. Jordan Staal fight: How Senators, Hurricanes captains opened NHL playoffs by dropping gloves

Brady Tkachuk vs. Jordan Staal fight: How Senators, Hurricanes captains opened NHL playoffs by dropping gloves originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Stanley Cup Playoff hockey is officially back. Just ask Brady Tkachuk and Jordan Staal.

Just three seconds into the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators' series-opening game on Saturday afternoon, the two captains were jawing at each other leading up to the opening faceoff.

Three seconds later, play had already stopped for a captain vs. captain fight to set the tone for what looks due to be a physical series between the two squads.

Here's a look at the scrap between Tkachuk and Staal and some reasoning behind the lightning-fast fight.

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Brady Tkachuk-Jordan Staal fight

Just three seconds after the puck dropped in Raleigh, the Senators and Hurricanes' captains duked it out at center ice.

Tkachuk and Staal were seen jawing at each other just before the opening faceoff, likely tempting each other to drop the gloves.

One of the fastest fights in NHL playoffs history came in the first 2026 postseason matchup:

While the Senators' captain was the one to land the first blow with a right hook, it was Carolina's Staal who would follow up with counterstrikes. He eventually dragged Tkachuk to the ice shortly before they both skated to the penalty box for a five-minute stay.