Brady Tkachuk knew the reception would be frosty. It was worse. The former Ottawa captain’s first game back since his June 21 trade to Florida turned into a nightmare evening, as the Senators routed the Panthers 5-1 while the home crowd serenaded him with boos.
Tkachuk — dealt to the Panthers after asking for a trade to join his brother Matthew — did score Florida’s only goal to briefly make it 1-0. But from there it was all Ottawa: goals from Stutzle, Giroux, Pinto, Foegele and Halliday buried the visitors, while chants of “We don’t need you!” and “Traitor” rained down and some fans threw Tkachuk jerseys onto the ice.
The night turned chippy in the third period, with scraps involving both Tkachuks and Sam Bennett, as years of frustration boiled over. Ottawa goalie Ullmark was hurt early in the third after making 16 saves, adding an injury worry to an otherwise perfect night.
The win was Ottawa’s fifth in seven games, keeping the Senators rolling in the early season — and giving their fans the sweetest possible revenge script against the captain who wanted out.
For Tkachuk, the boos were a harsh homecoming. For Ottawa, it was a statement: the team, and the city, have already moved on.
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Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.