Overview

• The Ottawa Senators return to the NHL playoffs for the first time in eight years, opening their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs this weekend.
• Captain Brady Tkachuk, sidelined since March with an upper-body injury, is expected to play in Game 1, according to GM Steve Staois.
• Former Stanley Cup champion Mike Rupp predicts Tkachuk will play a physically dominant role, though fans remain skeptical of his lack of playoff experience.
• The Maple Leafs hold a historical edge, having won all four previous playoff series against Ottawa, despite the Senators’ recent five-game winning streak over Toronto in the regular season.
• If both Tkachuk brothers—Brady with Ottawa and Matthew with Florida—advance past the first round, a second-round sibling showdown is likely.