OTTAWA 鈥� The Ottawa Senators are staring down their biggest test of the season, but captain Brady Tkachuk is ready for the challenge ahead.
Ottawa lost 3-2 in overtime on Thursday despite yet another strong effort and is trailing 3-0 in their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Game 4 on Saturday night is a must-win to stave off elimination.
Tkachuk, who scored the equalizer midway through the third period to force overtime, has drawn inspiration from elsewhere, including the documentary "The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox" that he watched recently.
鈥淥bviously, this isn鈥檛 the situation we drew up, but make it the hardest challenge of them all,鈥� said Tkachuk.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been done before and I have the belief that it can happen again."
The Senators take some solace in the fact they鈥檝e played well and have shown resilience through much of the season.
鈥淚f we lose, we go home so our back鈥檚 up against the wall and this is where our true character is going to show out,鈥� said Tkachuk. 鈥淭he belief that we have, like I said, you鈥檙e never out of it, you鈥檙e never out of it in a game, never out of it in a series.
"It鈥檚 going to be a big one. It鈥檚 gonna be a big one Saturday night and I know we鈥檙e going to play with absolutely everything that we have. There鈥檚 nothing to save it for.鈥�
Results aside, Ottawa head coach Travis Green doesn鈥檛 feel much needs to change for his team to have a better fate.
鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 a little thing here and there,鈥� said Green. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 a lot we have to change. We鈥檝e got to play. They鈥檙e a good team.
"I鈥檓 not complaining but they鈥檝e had a couple bounces go their way. We just need to keep playing and worry about the next game.鈥�
While much will be made about what needs to be said before Game 4, Green said the message is fairly simple.
鈥淲hether you鈥檙e up three or you鈥檙e down three, for me, the next game is the most important one,鈥� said Green. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we have to worry about winning four in a row and that鈥檚 what every coach is going to say.鈥�
The Senators knew what they were up against in the Leafs right from the start and their approach won鈥檛 change.
鈥淣ever ever crossed my mind that it was going to be a 4-0 series,鈥� said Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark. 鈥淣o, we said it from the start it鈥檚 going to be a long one, it鈥檚 going to be a tight one and we鈥檙e going to do everything in our power to make it to seven now.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24, 2025.
Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press
