Senators' Brady Tkachuk kicks off series by fighting Hurricanes' Jordan Staal

Brady Tkachuk of the Senators and Jordan Staal of the Hurricanes fight at the start of Saturday's NHL playoff contest in Raleigh, N.C. Photo by Jared C. Tilton /Getty Images

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Brady Tkachuk wanted to send an early message that the Ottawa Senators have a fighting chance.

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The Senators captain continued a familiar trend that started down the stretch when he dropped the gloves with Carolina Hurricanes counterpart Jordan Staal on the first shift of what turned into a 2-0 Ottawa loss in Game 1 of the National Hockey League playoffs on Saturday at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C.

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The television cameras caught Tkachuk chatting with Staal before the puck was dropped at centre ice.

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Both were given five-minute fighting majors only three seconds into the game, and neither got the better of the other.

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They both wanted to set the tone for what many believe will be a long, tough series. After all, this is the first time the Hurricanes and Senators have faced each other on the Stanley Cup playoff stage.

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“I just wanted to show it’s going to be a long series, and he wanted to do the same thing,” Tkachuk said. “I guess the building loved. It got the energy going, and we got the playoffs going for the whole league.”

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Brady Tkachuk of the Senators attempts a shot during the third period of the game against the Hurricanes at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., on Saturday. Photo by Jared C. Tilton /Getty Images

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Staal felt that he should accept the challenge from Tkachuk, especially in the home barn. The fans in Raleigh didn’t mind it one bit.

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“He asked me, and I kind of expected it,” the 37-year-old Staal told ESPN after the first period. “He’s a physical player, he was ready to roll, and so am I, so is this group. It’s part of the gig.

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“We’re not backing down from anyone. We’re ready to roll.”

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Tkachuk has used this approach before. He dropped the gloves with New York Islanders captain Anders Lee at the start of a 3-2 victory at the Canadian Tire Centre on March 19.

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Lee was granted a rematch by Tkachuk on April 11 in Ottawa’s 3-0 victory over the Isles at the UBS Arena.

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“I liked it a lot,” Senators head coach Travis Green said. “I love it.”

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This was a technique Tkachuk used with his brother, Matthew, and J.T. Miller of the New York Rangers while playing for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in Montreal in February 2025.

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Staal said after Saturday’s game that he felt it was necessary to accept Tkachuk’s challenge.

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“Physical guy and he wanted to go,” Staal added. “Those Tkachuk brothers play hard, they play physical, and they play that style of game, which is hard to play against. He’s no different. It was an interesting start for sure.”

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The decision to start the series with a fight caught Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour off-guard.

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“He never ceases to keep impressing,” Brind’Amour said of Staal. “He was great tonight, and that’s pretty much every night. When does he not do his thing? I give him a lot of credit.”

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The Senators and Hurricanes combined for 96 hits in Saturday’s contest, which was remarkable.

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“It’s playoff hockey. That’s what you expect,” Brind’Amour said.

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