What a season it’s been for the Ottawa Senators! After eight long years, the team is finally in the NHL playoffs. What’s more? Their brilliant comeback 7-5 victory against the Hurricanes has only bolstered the fans’ hopes going into round one against a nursing Toronto Maple Leafs. Yet, arguably their biggest star, Brady Tkachuk, just can’t seem to overcome his bad luck.

The Senators’ captain suffered an upper-body injury when his team fought to clinch the Eastern Conference wildcard. So that’s why the 25-year-old played the Senators’ final regular-season game as a tune-up. What Tkachuk didn’t know was that he’d have to sit through the third period after a close call. Yet, you’d be wrong if you thought that the NHL star was done with close calls.

TSN’s Claire Hanna saw a concerning scene unfold while watching the Ottawa Senators hit one of their last skates before D-Day. “Brady Tkachuk just took a stick to the face at #Sens practice,” Hanna wrote while posting a clip of Brady Tkachuk sitting on the beach bench as the staff attended to him. However, the team’s reaction proved just how high the stakes are.

Everyone still on the ice kneeled, intently watching their captain get treated for any injuries he may have sustained. Thankfully, the young Tkachuk brother didn’t sustain any noteworthy injuries. “Ottawa’s Captain is back out there but took a timeout on the bench to recompose himself,” added the former pro volleyball player-turned-journalist. Yet, this is the second close call in two games.

That brings us to why he had to sit out the third period against the Canes. Brady Tkachuk took a stick to the face during his tune-up game, too. “Yeah, no issues,” the hockey forward said after the game. “I just wanted to get some reps, power-play reps, and I think we accomplished that,” he added. But how many close calls are too many? It’s not a question anyone wanted the answer to, especially since there’s so much anticipation surrounding the first-round clash between the Senators and the Leafs.

A milestone for Brady Tkachuk

The upper-body injury certainly cast a shadow of concern over Tkachuk’s chances of returning for the playoffs. However, it’s safe to say the Ottawa Senators’ star wouldn’t have missed this opportunity unless he absolutely couldn’t help it. Why, you ask? Well, that’s because after 512 career games in the NHL, the 2024–25 playoffs will be Brady Tkachuk’s first.

Yes! You heard that right. Despite playing over 500 games, Brady Tkachuk is yet to make his playoff debut. In fact, he isn’t the only one. Fellow Senator Thomas Chabot has also played 512 games and is set to make his NHL playoffs debut with the team captain. The 25-year-old explained just how much their dream of making the playoffs shaped them as a team.

“I mean, it’s just molded us into who we are and to who we are as, you know, a group, and as individuals,” Tkachuk said as per Lethbridge News Now. “There’s been plenty of adversity, plenty of tough times, and to kind of come out of that, it feels like we’re all kind of new people and, you know, our best selves,” the forward added. And the hype doesn’t just end there.

After years, the Senators and Leafs fans will finally witness a Battle of Ontario. It’s a legendary Canadian rivalry that hockey fans have been starved of for far too long. Wondering just how significant it is for the city? Well, earlier this week, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe stepped up to the podium outside the Heritage Building at City Hall and raised the Senators’ flag. It’s safe to say that, win or lose, Brady Tkachuk & Co. will be part of hockey history.