OTTAWA – Brady Tkachuk needed nothing greater than to ship a win for Ottawa Senators followers.
The Senators captain’s voice cracked with emotion as he spoke to the media post-game. He expressed a deep sense of disappointment, wishing he may have performed extra after Ottawa fell 4-2 on Thursday night time to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who received the first-round collection 4-2.
“It’s devastating,” mentioned Tkachuk softly. “I actually believed. It’s a tricky capsule to swallow proper now.”
Tkachuk waited a very long time to expertise playoff hockey. The 25-year-old performed 512 regular-season video games earlier than lastly attending to expertise the post-season and admitted he discovered a ton about himself and his workforce.
“Effectively, I imply simply the character we’ve got on this room, at the start,” he mentioned. “I knew all of it alongside, however to battle again, and even battle again on this sport.
“And, I imply, I don’t know, it’s robust to swallow however on the finish of the day to see this metropolis, see this fan base and I actually needed to do it for them. And, I imply, they got here out and did their job. It’s gonna be an extended couple months right here however myself and the remainder of the group right here we’re gonna include numerous fireplace subsequent 12 months.”
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The Senators, who had been making their first playoff look since 2017 and trailed the best-of-seven collection 3-0, rallied to drive Sport 6. Toronto took a 2-0 lead on Thursday and as soon as once more, Ottawa pushed again and tied it, however Toronto prevailed ultimately.
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“We left all of it on the market,” mentioned defenceman Thomas Chabot, who, like Tkachuk, skilled playoff hockey for the primary time. “We left all of it on the market the final three video games and the complete collection. We misplaced two video games in time beyond regulation they usually may have gone both manner.
“All people gave it their all and put all of it on the market. It sucks proper now however I don’t suppose anybody goes residence with regrets about how they performed.”
Whereas silver linings are arduous to see right now, the Senators take solace in the truth that they’ll come again stronger subsequent season.
“Yeah, I imply, I believe it takes will, it takes guts,” mentioned Tkachuk. “Didn’t get the job performed however I believe we’re gonna take these classes and be that a lot better due to it. I do know it’s robust to comprehend proper now, however every part occurs for a purpose and I’ll be higher due to it.”
This marked the top of Travis Inexperienced’s first season behind the Senators bench. Like his captain, Inexperienced was visibly upset on the consequence, but additionally extremely happy with his workforce.
“Effectively, they’re gonna take away rather a lot,” Inexperienced mentioned. “What playoff hockey’s like, how arduous it’s, how razor skinny the margin is. Each shift, each battle issues, consideration to element however I’m happy with our group. They performed arduous.”
Veteran winger David Perron acknowledged that it’s going to solely get more durable from this level ahead.
“The loopy factor is it’s not going to get simpler subsequent 12 months, it’s going to get tougher to get again in the identical place,” mentioned Perron. “I believe if we requested the workforce over there, that’s what they might let you know.
“So it’s you make one step after which the subsequent step is just a little bit tougher to win one spherical and win two rounds and all that. I’m happy with these guys and the best way we labored all 12 months to get higher and put ourselves on this scenario.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Could 1, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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