In the first half of Game 4 against the Ottawa Senators, the Carolina Hurricanes lost their rookie defenseman, Alexander Nikishin, due to injury, which soon led to a line brawl and heightened physicality throughout the rest of the match. Though information was minimal, head coach Rod Brind’Amour still spoke to the media about him after the game.
With 15:29 left on the second period clock, Alexander Nikishin hit the ice hard.
Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven had landed a massive hit on him – a blow which snapped Nikishin’s head back and knocked him off his feet. Immediately after, Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho converged on Kleven as the others on the ice found someone to tussle with.
As a major penalty on Kleven was called and went under review, head athletic trainer Doug Bennett rushed onto the ice to tend to Nikishin. He managed to stand on his own power, but as he went to skate away, he fell, being caught by Bennett and Seth Jarvis. Soon after, Shayne Gostisbehere skated over and assisted him off the ice alongside Jarvis.
Alexander Nikishin took a nasty hit from Tyler Kleven and a whole brawl eruptedNikishin struggled to leave the ice, stumbling as he returned to his skatesThe full moment:#SoundTheSiren #GoSensGo #NHL #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/pSRMnZ8ec6
— Queen of the Puck (@rbarkleyhockey) April 25, 2026
After review, Kleven’s five-minute major penalty was rescinded, with only Jordan Spence receiving a minor penalty for roughing against Gostisbehere, and Svechnikov receiving two minor penalties against Kleven for roughing, giving the Senators the power play.
“Nikishin, I don’t know, I can’t tell you,” Brind’Amour told the media. “That’s obviously a concussion there. Or certainly looked like one.
“So, I don’t have any definitive there on that one.”
Nikishin previously sustained a concussion in the KHL in January 2025, during his time as the captain of SKA St. Petersburg. He was cleared to return to play one week later.
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