Aleksander Barkov was attempted to be executed right in the return game - Brady Tkachuk got angry and rushed to fight

Florida Panthers’ Finnish captain Aleksander Barkov returned to the NHL ice since June 2025. He played in Florida’s first preseason game as the team defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 6-3 Finnish time on Monday night.

Barkov returned effectively to the rink. He recorded 1+1 in the game. Barkov played on the Panthers’ first line with Sam Reinhart and the team’s summer superstar acquisition Brady Tkachuk.

Emotions also ran high during the game. In the final period, Barkov protected the puck near the boards in the offensive zone when Carolina’s Charles-Alexis Legault knocked him down. Tkachuk was completely enraged by this and immediately attacked Legault. The two dropped their gloves and began to fight.

Tkachuk’s first game in Florida also went well in terms of points, as he scored 2+1. Thus, Tkachuk achieved a Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, an assist, and a fight. The other three-point player of the game was Niko Mikkola with 1+2.

Among Florida’s other Finnish players, Eetu Luostarinen got one assist, while Anton Lundell went without points. In Carolina’s lineup were Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Juha Jääskä, and Juuso Välimäki, who also went without points.