Senators captain Brady Tkachuk out of lineup against Habs

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The 4 Nations Face-Off took its toll on Brady Tkachuk.

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The Ottawa Senators captain wasn’t healthy enough to suit up against the Montreal Canadiens as National Hockey League play resumed Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Tkachuk, who scored three times for the United States during the tournament, including one goal in his teams’ 3-2 loss in the final against Canada on Thursday night in Boston, is listed as day-to-day.

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Senators head coach Travis Green had stated Saturday morning that Tkachuk would be a game-time decision.

The hope is Tkachuk will be ready to play against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday, but that’s still to be determined. He wasn’t on the ice for the morning skate on Saturday.

Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson, who also got a last-minute call to suit up for the U.S. and didn’t skate Saturday morning, either, was in Ottawa’s lineup against the Habs.

Tkachuk, 25, left Team USA’s second game of the tournament against Sweden last Monday after slamming into a goalpost. He didn’t skate in that club’s practice on Wednesday.

He was noticeably limping when he walked into Boston’s TD Garden for the final on Thursday, but played more than 19 minutes against Canada.

The hope is this is being done for precautionary reasons.

His brother, Matthew Tkachuk, who tried to play through an injury in the 4 Nations final, didn’t suit up for the Florida Panthers on Saturday night and could be out a lengthy stretch.

Injuries were always a cause for concern for NHL clubs when the 4 Nations event took place in Montreal and Boston.

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Green said he wasn’t the least bit surprised that Brady Tkachuk had played a key role for the U.S.

“It’s not surprising, if that’s what you’re asking,” Green said. “He’s played great hockey for us. He’s been a dominating force in the league almost from the time he came into the league.

“He played great at the tournament and it doesn’t surprise me one bit.”

Trying to make the playoffs for the first time in eight years, the Senators need a healthy Tkachuk to lead the way. He has 21 goals and 23 assists for 44 points in 56 games this season.

After seeing Tkachuk with the Americans, many believe he will be a difference-maker if the Senators can make the post-season for the first time since 2017.

“I have no doubt that he’d be a great player in the playoffs,” Green said. “I didn’t question it before he left, but what makes him what he is (is that) he wants to win badly. When you want to win, and you’re ultra-competitive, you need those two elements if you want to go far in the playoffs.”

The Senators were already centres Josh Norris and Shane Pinto because of injuries. Pinto missed his third straight game Saturday after being hurt Feb. 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was the fifth straight absence for Norris, who was hurt on Feb. 1 against the Minnesota Wild.

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