The showdown between sworn enemies, the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens, ended the way it usually has this season: the Habs had the last laugh on Wednesday at the Canadian Tire Centre. With the victory, the Canadiens are on a three-game winning streak. To add to the Sens’ misfortune, captain Brady Tkachuk was a shell of his usual self, drawing widespread backlash for his role in the game against the Canadiens.
Social Media Criticizes Brady Tkachuk for Quiet Game Against Canadiens
The Canadiens have emerged victorious against the Senators in the majority of their clashes this season, and the 3-2 win was no exception. Tkachuk, whose appearances against the Habs are known for their physicality, delivered an underwhelming performance against the archrivals. Fans missed the captain’s boisterous presence on the ice, prompting Senators commentators and journalists to strongly criticize the 26-year-old.
“16:26 TOI in a game like that from Brady Tkachuk isn’t enough. Don’t know if that’s on Green or on him, but he is their second-highest-paid forward. Gotta be out there more. One hit too. Against the Habs,” Senators journalist Jack Richardson wrote on X. The winger commands an annual salary of approximately $8.2 million and must live up to it every single game.
Fans sorely miss the bite that Tkachuk brought to the lineup. The Senators community on X, Everyday Sens, just wants the captain to channel his fiery form again. “I hear you guys on the Brady criticism. Thought he was solid with the puck again but, yeah, he really needs to get back to being Brady Tkachuk. 1 hit in this game and hardly any physical presence. Just doesn’t look like himself despite the production.”
“Brady Tkachuk how do you not wake up for this one,” another Senators commentator expressed in disbelief at the captain’s performance, given the significance of a battle between Ottawa and Montreal.
“Down the stretch, I want to see Brady Tkachuk get into a scrum throw off his gloves to reveal that he’s no longer wearing a protective wrap,” a Senators journalist shared on X. This is a reference to the protective cast Tkachuk had been wearing to protect his thumb in the aftermath of a fully torn ligament. The winger has revealed in the latest episode of the Wingmen podcast that he is not taping his thumb anymore.
To add to Tkachuk’s misfortune, Habs fans showed up at the Canadian Tire Centre on Wednesday in full glory to keep the rivalry alive. “Brady Tkachuk gets a loud boo in his own building (it’s Montreal Canadiens fans),” a Senators writer shared on social media.
While the most prudent thing to do at this point is to hope for a different outcome in the next match for the Senators, it is hard not to think about how different the game could have unfolded between the Canadiens and the Sens if Tkachuk were his usual, relentless self who just wants to win at any cost.
