Senators' Brady Tkachuk Sends 'Tough' Message After NHL Playoffs Elimination
The Ottawa Senators entered their second consecutive postseason looking to build on a late-season push that secured their place in the Eastern Conference field and aiming to improve last year's six-game elimination outcome.
Instead, the Senators' playoff run ended even quicker than in 2025, this time against the Carolina Hurricanes, continuing a trend that has now carried into back-to-back seasons.
Ottawa was eliminated from contention on Saturday following a 4-2 loss in Game 4, completing a four-game sweep in the first-round series against the Canes.
Although the Senators kept the games tight and never lost by more than two goals, Ottawa was unable to break through, and a glaring lack of goal-scoring prowess-the Senators scored five goals in four games, never more than two-doomed them.
The disappointing outcome left Senators captain Brady Tkachuk facing questions immediately after the final horn, with the forward discussing the elimination during his postgame media availability.
"I didn't want our season to be over," Tkachuk said. "It's just really tough, just didn't want it to be over."
Added Tkachuk: "It's kind of the same (as last year). It's heartbreaking. You just come in, you want to just win a Stanley Cup, and everyone believes that in here, and for it to be this tight of a series and not go away every game, it's really tough."
"For it to be this tight of a series and not go our way every game. It's really tough."
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) April 25, 2026
An emotional Brady Tkachuk after being eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs pic.twitter.com/L0ESlZXV9l
Ottawa pushed Game 2 into double overtime and dropped Game 3 by a single goal, but could not turn any of those efforts into wins.
"Really tight series," Tkachuk said. "Give credit to them. They're a great team, play hard, don't give you much. I think everybody in this room gave absolutely everything they had to try to extend the series, and it's tough."
Last year, Ottawa fell behind 3-0 against the Toronto Maple Leafs before eventually losing in six games. This time, the series did not extend beyond four.
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This story was originally published April 26, 2026 at 9:01 AM.