OTTAWA — The city of Ottawa gets a bad rap for being boring. Well, that narrative doesn’t carry over to its NHL team.
This season’s two main characters, Linus Ullmark and Brady Tkachuk, were excellent in thrusting the Ottawa Senators back into a playoff spot in a 4-1 victory over Buffalo on Thursday, despite the “outside noise” returning for what feels like the 100th time this season.
On Tkachuk’s end, he was a goal away from a Gordie Howe Hat Trick, while Ullmark stopped 21 of 22 shots, including a massive, monumental save that turned the game.
In the first period, Tkachuk’s heavyweight fight with Logan Stanley got the Senators engaged — even if Tkachuk isn’t supposed to touch a Stanley until the playoffs.
“Yeah, not surprising, he’s been stepping up lately,” Senators head coach Travis Green said. “I thought he was emotionally invested.”
Later, Tkachuk made an unreal dish to Dylan Cozens for a game-shifting, equalizing goal.
“It was a big response after they went up 1-0. Getting that tying goal was big,” said Green.
Ullmark made a ludicrous game-changing save, charging out from the net to confront an oncoming Bowen Byram in the dying seconds of the second period.
“I think that chance at the very end in the second period won us the game. He’s stood on his head all night,” said Tkachuk.
When Ullmark and Tkachuk excel, so too does their team. But lately, the two of them have become known as much for chaos and drama as for performance on the ice.
Let’s start with Ullmark.
The Swede battled mental-health struggles that forced him to take leave for several weeks earlier in the season. Then, last week, the team said that he was unable to play in a crucial game against Tampa Bay due to fatigue.
“I don’t have to talk about any of that,” Green said. “He needed rest and that’s fine.”
Ullmark echoed his coach in his first remarks to the media since the incident, which came after Thursday’s game. “No. We’re going to talk about that tomorrow.”
When he returned to play Tuesday, Ullmark gave up a goal eight seconds in and five goals overall in the first period against the Panthers only to be pulled. It wasn’t pretty.
Green was defiant when asked about it later: “(Ullmark) is our guy. Last game, I pulled him, but I pulled him more because the team was so s—–. Not because of him.”
“I want him to play every night. He’s our No. 1 goalie. He’s been playing well since he came back (from mental-health leave). But, in saying that, everyone in the room understands that it’s been a bit of a rough year for him off the ice, on the ice and, I think, since he’s come back from his leave.”
Asked about the “outside noise,” Ullmark said, “We’re used to it, nothing new.”
The docuseries level of drama was revved up when Tkachuk’s father, Keith, an NHL veteran, made comments on the Wingmen podcast Brady co-hosts with brother Matthew, saying, “my pinky hurts. I’m out for 6-8.” Keith seemed to mock Ullmark.
“’I just had a bad sleep, so I can’t play today.’ Oh, my God, disgusting,” he said. “Can’t play back-to-back, rest management.”
Brady Tkachuk denied that his father was talking about the Senators goalie: “I don’t know how that got twisted and (I) have to talk about it now, but I thought it was clear as day. He’s talking about the Florida Panthers.
“All those things didn’t come out of my mouth. And, I mean, I completely respect my dad. He’s going to be a Hall of Famer. So, I mean, I’m not going to put words in his mouth or explain what he said.”
Keith also had some spicy comments on Brady’s role in the Florida debacle.
“You didn’t play that much last game, either. I just wanted to throw that in there,” he said on the podcast, and went on to take what seemed like a shot at Green. “Why play him a lot in a big game? I’m just carving the coach right now.”
Brother Matthew chimed in: “Why play him more at the Olympics than the regular season? That makes sense.”
Green replied on Thursday: “If I’m not mistaken, he’s probably in our top three or four on our team for ice time. He’s a big man. I think Brady’s minutes are perfect, to tell you the truth.”
Green said he knows Keith Tkachuk “really well.” “He’s a friend. Played with him, known (him) a long time. I know he’s outspoken,” Green said.
Brady Tkachuk didn’t hide his frustration with having to answer questions about his father after a critical triumph over the Sabres.
“I’ve answered twice,” he said.
Although, there could be some gamesmanship, too.
“I’m so disappointed in your team right now. I’m disgusted,” Keith Tkachuk said on the podcast about the Ottawa Senators.
Back in 2023, Keith Tkachuk publicly called out the Panthers down the stretch while they were fighting for a playoff spot. It seemingly worked; they snuck into the playoffs, eventually making the Stanley Cup Finals.
Regardless, it seems like no matter what happens, both “outside forces” and inside forces conspire against the Senators captain’s hope for tranquility this season. Stick to hockey, right? But he’s the one with the podcast.
After the win against the Sabres, Ullmark and Tkachuk made an emotional display of camaraderie with a huge on-ice embrace in celebration.
The Senators goaltender and captain will define the team’s fortunes. Neither were good on their recent road trip but the two of them dragged Ottawa to victory Thursday. Whatever happens in the remaining seven games, the story of this Senators team will be narrated by Ullmark and Tkachuk.
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Injury blow after blow: Tyler Kleven left the game after taking a puck to the face in the first period and did not return. The Senators found themselves without six defencemen who’ve played for the team since the start of March, with Jake Sanderson’s and Thomas Chabot’s injuries at the forefront. The only defenceman on the ice who started the season in the top six was Artem Zub.
The Senators played the rest of the game with five defencemen who were all right shots led by Jordan Spence, who has flourished in an augmented role, playing a career high 30:48 on Thursday. If it weren’t for a little off-season trade by GM Steve Staios for the diminutive d-man, the Senators’ playoff hopes might already be dashed.
“Real unbelievable effort out of our defence, asking a lot out of a lot of players, some players we don’t know very well,” said Green.
There have been a ton of gutsy performances this season, but to win without four of your six best defencemen is astounding, especially against a great Buffalo team that would have clinched a playoff spot with a win.
It’s also a testament to the resiliency of the group, and the structure they play under Green.
On the injury front, Sanderson could return on the weekend. Asked about Kleven’s injury, Green said: “Hope for the best; I’m not expecting it to be great news.”
Cozens’ revenge: Cozens was a force against his former team, with a pretty goal that helped vanquish Buffalo.
“I think any time you face your former team, it’s personal,” said Cozens.
His goal tied the game and turned it around for a banged-up and depleted Senators squad.
“He’s a sneaky horse out there, the way he skates and the way he protects pucks, wins battles,” said Tkachuk, who has shared a line with him since early January. “And I told him that as a line that I really wanted to show up for him tonight, because I know how important this game is for him.”
Juxtapose that to Josh Norris exiting the game due to a 10-minute misconduct. The Senators had the last laugh Thursday night, but the Sabres have a virtual lock on the playoffs, while the Senators must soldier on.
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