Carolina Hurricanes rookie defenceman Alexander Nikishin suffered a concussion on Saturday after taking a crushing hit from Ottawa Senators defenceman Tyler Kleven.
Nikishin returned home to Raleigh with his teammates where he will continue protocols for a safe return to action.
Alexander Nikishin was diagnosed with a concussion during Game 4 in Ottawa. He returned with the team to Raleigh where he will continue the NHL’s protocol for a safe return to play.
— Hurricanes PR (@CanesPR) April 26, 2026
Carolina defeated Ottawa 4-2 in Game 4, advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a four-game sweep.
Early in the second period, Nikishin attempted to play the puck at his feet along the side boards inside Carolina’s zone when Kleven delivered a hit that sent Nikishin down to the ice hard.
Nikishin lay on the ice motionless for some time as multiple scrums occurred following the hit. The 24-year-old Russian needed help from teammates to get off the ice and into the dressing room.
Kleven did not receive a penalty on the play, while Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov received a double minor for roughing and Sens defenceman Jordan Spence received a minor for roughing.
Nikishin tallied 11 goals and 22 assists over 81 games in 2025-26, his first season in the NHL.
