NHL playoffs start with a bang as Team USA star Brady Tkachuk drops gloves at opening faceoff

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The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs got started with a big bang on Saturday.

Team USA folk hero Brady Tkachuk dropped the gloves with Jordan Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes in a battle of on-ice captains as soon as the puck dropped to begin the quest for the Stanley Cup.

When taking the ice to begin the game, Tkachuk appeared to ask Staal if he had any interest in getting into it.

Apparently, it was a yes.

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Jordan Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes and Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators fight during the first period of Game 1 in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., April 18, 2026. (Josh Lavallee/NHLI/Getty Images)

Tkachuk threw a couple of right hands, but Staal delivered a huge blow that connected and knocked Tkachuk to the ice.

This is not the first time Tkachuk dropped the gloves at the opening faceoff this season. He did it twice earlier against New York Islanders captain Anders Lee, including just last week.

Left wing Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators and center Jordan Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes fight after the opening faceoff during Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs' first round at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., April 18, 2026. (Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire)

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Tkachuk stole the hearts of American hockey fans last year when, playing for Team USA at the 4 Nations, he got into a fight with Team Canada's Sam Bennett just three seconds after his brother, Matthew, got into a fight as the puck dropped. 

Bennett and Matthew