The Ottawa Senators are now dealing with the disappointment of a second straight first-round exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, though this year’s loss feels even more deflating than last spring.
After a strong second-half surge to secure a postseason berth for the second consecutive season, the Senators were swept in the opening round by the Carolina Hurricanes. A year earlier, they found themselves giving a major scare to the Toronto Maple Leafs, rallying from a three-game series deficit to win two straight and giving their fans hope that a breakthrough and a return to consistent playoff contention was right around the corner.
However, those thoughts are now on hold following their sweep at the hands of the Hurricanes, who effectively shut down all of their top forwards. Speaking of top forwards, captain Brady Tkachuk was unable to attend Ottawa’s season-ending media availability session at Canadian Tire Centre, albeit for a good reason.
Ottawa Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk Has Announced Life Changing News
According to TSN, Tkachuk was unavailable for Ottawa’s season-ending media availability session because his wife Emma gave birth to the couple’s second child.
The couple initially welcomed son Ryder Keith, whose middle name honors Brady’s father, Keith Tkachuk, in September of 2024.
Congratulations to the Tkachuk family on their latest addition!
Brady Tkachuk Was “Heartbroken” Over The Senators’ First Round Sweep By The Hurricanes
Tkachuk, who wears his emotions on his sleeve as the physical and emotional leader of the Senators, was naturally not in the greatest of moods on Saturday after his club was officially swept from the postseason.
“It’s heartbreaking,” he said. “Really tight series. Give credit to them, they are a really (good) team and play hard. Everybody in this room gave everything they had to try to extend the series. It’s tough.”
Two of the games in the series were decided by a single goal, and Ottawa likely believed right up until Carolina forward Sebastian Aho scored into the open net late in regulation of Game 4 that they had a chance to knot the score and at least force overtime.
The Senators weren’t aided by the fact that Tkachuk failed to find the scoresheet during the entire series, but it’s also a testament to the kind of stingy defensive play that the Hurricanes have been known for under head coach Rod Brind’Amour.
“We knew it was going to be an absolute grind of a series and I think every game showed there wasn’t much room,” said Tkachuk. “Sometimes you don’t get the luck with some of the posts and some of the chances that don’t go in.
“It’s just heartbreaking.”
That doesn’t mean that there’s not room for optimism, as evidenced by head coach Travis Green’s words.
“I think we have taken a lot of steps this year to really having a lot of belief that we’re a lot closer than we were to hopefully competing for a Stanley Cup,” Green said. “That’s what we’re here for. You don’t say that very often when you lose 4-0.”
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