The Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tensions are high, the stakes even higher.

From the opening faceoff, it was clear that the Ottawa Senators wouldn’t bend easily to the top-seeded Carolina Hurricanes. The captains — Ottawa winger Brady Tkachuk and Carolina center Jordan Staal — dropped the gloves as soon as the puck was in play, bringing Lenovo Center to a roar.

A FIGHT TO START THE PLAYOFFS‼️

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

— ESPN (@espn) April 18, 2026

Much like Staal’s fight with Tkachuk, the Canes (53-22-7) handled business, tromping the Senators (44-27-11) 2-0 in a physical Game 1 of the the opening series of the playoffs.

“It’s playoff hockey,” head coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “The first round, everybody has got all the energy in the world, and that’s kind of what you expect.”

The captains’ fight was only just the beginning of the physicality as the teams recorded a combined 96 hits throughout the game, matching each other blow for blow.

“Everybody out there was giving it all they had,” Brind’Amour said. “Not a lot of room, and everybody was fighting for everything.”

The physicality kept both offenses stagnant through the opening 20 minutes, but Carolina drew first blood when center Logan Stankoven rocketed the puck through the legs of Senator netminder Linus Ullmark.

Stankoven, who was acquired from the Dallas Stars in March 2025, has taken his game to the next level in his first full season in Raleigh, marking career-highs in goals, assists, points and shooting percentage.

“Very grateful for another crack at the playoffs,” Stankoven said. “We learned some lessons last year, and hopefully we can change that this year and go all the way.”

Ottawa continued to attack the Canes’ defense, trying desperately to tie the match, but Carolina’s brute force and diving saves kept it off the board.

It seemed all for naught as Senator winger Drake Batherson found an open look for the first time all night, attempting to slot the puck into the bottom right corner of the net. But Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen made one of his most impressive saves of the season, snatching the puck just millimeters before it crossed the goal line.

The Ottawa Senators were inches away from tying Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes but the NHL’s Situation Room ruled that the puck never crossed the line on a glove save by Frederik Andersen: https://t.co/fR2ZidKri5 #OTTvsCAR #Canes #Sens pic.twitter.com/zgdfJw3XVw

— Scouting The Refs (@ScoutingTheRefs) April 18, 2026

Though originally called a goal, it didn’t take long for referees to review the play and credit Andersen with the save.

“I had a pretty good idea [that I’d saved it],” Andersen said. “Felt like I got a good piece of it, and obviously the cameras agreed.”

Many were surprised that Andersen earned the starting nod over the record-breaking rookie Brandon Bussi amidst his historic season, who has been arguably the biggest acquisition for the Canes with a 31-6-2 record and an .894 save percentage across his 39 starts.

But Brind’Amour opted for experience, and Andersen stood tall in the net, saving all 22 shots that came his way and marking his sixth-career playoff shutout.

“We have good options, and both guys play well,” Brind’Amour said. “We have confidence in both guys, but clearly experience won out and it looked like he knew what he was doing.”

Midway through the third period, Carolina defenseman Alexander Nikishin found a window of opportunity, but his slapshot was deflected by Ullmark. A madhouse ensued in front of the net, but the puck found its way to winger Taylor Hall, who capitalized on the opportunity and gave Carolina a two-goal lead to close out the game.

The playoffs continue in Raleigh with Game 2 on Monday, April 20. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m.