Expect Captain Brady Tkachuk to be on the ice for the Ottawa senators when the Stanley Cup playoffs start on Saturday.
That word comes from head coach Travis Green, who had this simple answer on Monday when he was asked if Tkachuk would be back in time for the playoffs: “I do.”
Tkachuk, 25, practiced Monday for the first time since he had an upper body injury from a hit by Pittsburgh’s Ryan Graves on March 30. Forward, Ottawa leads with 29 goals and is bound for the third on the team with 55 points in 71 matches.
“He must (practice),” Green said. “If you want to be at the top of your game after you have been out … He is no different than any other player, you have to come back and get some training time. He is skating on your own a little now and it’s good to get him with the group. I thought he looked sharp. And I’m sure he will go skating again (Tuesday).”
Tkachuk will miss his eighth game in a row Tuesday when Sens hosts the Chicago Blackhawks. It is uncertain if he will play in the regular season finale Thursday against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes.
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