Senators star Brady Tkachuk says he'll be ready for playoff opener against Maple Leafs
Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) and Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrate after defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets in an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, March 29, 2025. Credit: AP/Sean Kilpatrick
OTTAWA, Ontario — Brady Tkachuk says he’s ready to go.
After missing the Senators’ last eight games because of an upper-body injury, the Ottawa captain returned to the lineup Thursday night for the regular-season finale against Carolina but didn’t finish the game.
Tkachuk sat out the third period of the Senators’ 7-5 victory after taking a stick to the face. He said it was a precautionary move and he’d be good to go Sunday for the playoff opener at Toronto.
“Yeah, no issues,” Tkachuk said.
The Senators are making their first postseason appearance in eight years. They finished in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Tkachuk hadn’t played since March 30 and wanted to get a game in to “get some touches.”
“I haven’t played in 2 1/2f weeks,” he said. “So just get the timing and I mean it’s not that much time at the end. But I just wanted to get some reps, power-play reps, and I think we accomplished that.”
Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (77) square off for a fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Detroit. Credit: AP/Duane Burleson
Tkachuk said he felt good, but he and the team “wanted to be smart about it.”
Tkachuk led the team with 29 goals. He will be making his playoff debut.
“It was seven long years,” he said. “But you know, it feels good getting into it.”
