Brady Tkachuk's 'Devastating' Message After Maple Leafs Eliminate Senators
The Ottawa Senators pushed their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs farther than many expected, but ultimately couldn't get past their in-province foes.
After falling behind 3-0 to the top-seeded Leafs, the Senators battled back with consecutive wins and came within a few minutes of forcing Game 7.
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A late goal from veteran forward Max Pacioretty, however, gave Toronto a 3-2 lead in Game 6, and William Nylander sealed Toronto's tickets to the second round with an empty-netter, wrapping up the final 4-2 score.
The loss marks the end of the Senators' first playoff appearance since 2017 and the end of Brady Tkachuk's first postseason run after 512 regular-season games.
Tkachuk scored in the second period Thursday, tipping in a point shot from Thomas Chabot to extend his point streak to five games and cut Toronto's advantage in half to 2-1.
The Senators' captain finished the series with four goals and three assists, leading the Senators in production, but he couldn't hide his emotion during his postgame media availability.
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'It's devastating,' Tkachuk said. 'I believed. It's a tough pill to swallow right now.'
Tkachuk also commented on the game's turning point—Pacioretty's third-period go-ahead goal.
'To be honest, it was a little deflating,' Tkachuk said. 'But there's six minutes left to play, or five, whatever it was. I really believed that we were going to come back and win the game. Just tough. Just tough.'
Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk (7) reacts after the Toronto Maple Leafs win game six and clinch a spot in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
The Senators had clawed back from early deficits and nearly stole the game again in the third, when David Perron tied it 2–2 with a shot from behind the net, but the effort fell short.
In the postgame handshake line, Leafs captain Auston Matthews acknowledged Tkachuk.
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'I just told him he's a great competitor, a great leader,' Matthews said. 'They're gonna be back.'
Related: Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner Sends Blunt Message After Second Loss to Senators
Related: Hockey Canada Announces Worlds Decision on Sidney Crosby and Connor Bedard
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