It was always going to be a challenge for the Senators, trying to overturn the 3-0 deficit in the playoff series against the Maple Leafs. The circumstances dictated that it had to be a miracle. Make no mistake. Nobody will say the Senators didn’t go for it. They went all in, cutting down the Leafs’ lead to 3-2. Heck, their Game 5 onslaught (and shutout) had Leafs fans deserting the Scotiabank Arena well before the final buzzer. But it wasn’t enough, and left Brady Tkachuk, their captain, who was playing his first-ever playoffs, heartbroken. “It’s devastating,” Tkachuk said, fighting back tears. “I believed. It’s a tough pill to swallow right now.” These are the times when families can be a solace. And Matthew Tkachuk never fails to be the perfect big brother.
Making a celebrity appearance on Spittin’ Chiclets’ on May 2, the Panthers alternate captain immediately took over the podcast. After all, they are getting ready for the big clash against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs-Senators series has been a roller coaster. And even the 6th game ebbed and flowed. “Just the way the game was going, you never know how, looked like it was going overtime, maybe we were going Game 7.” But eventually, the Leafs persisted. And the hot question? Did the Tkachuk brothers connect after the result?
“I just texted him last night,” was Matthew Tkachuk’s answer. “It was pretty late, so I haven’t got on the phone with him, just by text.” And the message? Whatever he said to Brady boiled down to one thing: “I’m proud of the way he played.” Lacking experience at this stage, and the scenario they found themselves to be, the Senators forward showed mental strength to withstand the storm. “He played great. It was, I think, a very big learning experience to see it firsthand with those guys. I thought he really led the charge with their team.”
Hey, in fact, Brady Tkachuk was dreaming of a complete reversal. Sending out messages of Red Sox-Yankees 2004 parallels, Brady was in full inspiration mode. But the Maple Leafs team is no joke, as Matthew Tkachuk explained, “It’s tough. Your first playoff, you’re going up against as great of a team as the Leafs are. And, you know, I think, let’s face it, they’re a deeper, better, more talented team than most teams in the league. So it’s tough to go up against that.”
But that’s what makes the Brady Tkachuk-led fightback even more gallant. “I thought Brady and his teammates, back against the Wall 2-3-0 and able to fight back enough.” Enough would be an understatement to be honest. The Brady Tkachuk-inspired Senators have started to make Ottawa believe. And the 6th game showed why Brady Tkachuk is the ‘heart and soul of the team’.
Trailing 2-0, the Canadian Tire Centre had lost all voice. Until Brady Tkachuk happened at 7:28 of the 2nd period. The younger Tkachuk single-handedly breathed life into the game. And then David Perron got the 2nd with a smart work to make it all square. “It could have gotten to Game 6 overtime, which (I’m) sure they would have taken a week ago,” Matthew Tkachuk added on the podcast.
But Max Pacioretty’s late 3rd-period winner came in the way. Nevertheless, his brother knows what he has done: “I’m proud of the way he played, though. Ever since Four Nations, I think people started to realize what type of big-time player he can be and is.” And the journey hasn’t been smooth. He had an injury concern to deal with just before the playoffs arrived, missing eight games in the crucial final stretch of the regular season. That being said, he had already made his contributions before being ruled out.
His numbers? 11 points in the 15 games he played in March. Not extraordinary, yes. But contextualize those numbers within the 16 out of 24 games the Senators won since March 1, and you’ll have some perspective. Matthew knows the path his younger brother has traversed. “He’s been grinding since Four Nations with stuff, too. So I’m just proud of his fight. He’s a gamer.”
What’s more? Brady fell just a goal short of making it 4 consecutive regular seasons with 30 goals. The Senator captain doesn’t switch off. And his brother couldn’t be prouder: “So I’m happy with how he played all year.”
And it’s all about building on what has happened. Consider the Panthers’ alternate captain, for instance. Although he is about to play his 4th consecutive Round 2 playoff series, his playoff beginnings weren’t too different from his younger brother’s.
Brady Tkachuk shares similar playoff beginnings with his brother, Matthew
Adding to Brady Tkachuk’s disappointment of losing his debut playoff series was the fact that he would not be able to go head-to-head with his brother. There’s seemingly no end to the possibilities that match-up would have held. But Brady is optimistic. “That’ll probably happen down the road,” he said. In the meantime, as he cheers his brother on from the sidelines, maybe he can look to his playoff history as well.
Because the current Panthers forward also lost his first playoff series, that too 4-0 to the Anaheim Ducks. In fact, he couldn’t make it to Round 2 until his final postseason appearance with the team. However, the left-winger’s playoff luck changed massively when he joined the Panthers. He has been to the finals twice and is looking to defend his Stanley Cup in 2025. Maybe a change of teams isn’t on the horizon for Brady yet. That being said, he can expect some big changes in the camp.
That’s because the Senators will have upwards of $18 million to invest in reinforcements and to hold down the likes of Claude Giroux and Adam Gaudette. Yes, as Perron said, “it’s not going to get easier next year.” But if this season proved anything, it’s that the Senators can fight back, and fight back good.
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