Brady Tkachuk's Return to the Ottawa Senators: A Playoff Comeback Story

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk is on track to rejoin the lineup for the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs, with head coach Travis Green expressing confidence in his return. Tkachuk, 25, has been sidelined since March 30 due to an upper-body injury sustained from a hit by Pittsburgh's Ryan Graves. Despite missing the last seven games, Tkachuk remains Ottawa's leading goal scorer with 29 goals and is tied for third in points with 55 across 71 games this season 

On Monday, Tkachuk participated in practice for the first time since his injury, skating in a non-contact jersey. Head coach Green emphasized the importance of practice to ensure Tkachuk is game-ready, noting that he has been skating individually and looked sharp during the team session 

While Tkachuk will miss his eighth consecutive game on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks, it remains uncertain if he will play in the regular-season finale on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. However, his expected return for the playoffs is a significant boost for the Senators, who have clinched their first playoff berth since 2017 

Tkachuk has expressed his eagerness to return to action, stating, "I don't think I'd ever miss an opportunity to play in the playoffs." As the team prepares for the postseason, his leadership and scoring ability will be crucial in Ottawa's quest for playoff success.