Senators Welcome Tkachuk Back in Finale Clash with Hurricanes
Alright, let’s talk about tonight’s game — Hurricanes at Senators — and what’s shaping up to be an interesting regular-season finale for both teams. It’s Game 82 for Carolina, and even though the outcome doesn’t really change much in the standings for them, there’s still a good bit of intrigue in this one.
First up, the Hurricanes. They’re coming off a 4–2 loss to the Canadiens last night where they iced a very rookie-heavy lineup, giving some of their stars a breather ahead of the playoffs. That’s likely to be the case again tonight — guys like Aho, Jarvis, and Slavin are scratched, which gives us a good look at the depth pieces like Skyler Brind’Amour, Bradly Nadeau, and Scott Morrow. Frederik Andersen is projected to be in net after Kochetkov got the call yesterday.
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Now on the flip side — Ottawa is taking this one seriously. They're basically rolling out their full playoff-ready lineup. Why? Simple — momentum. They want to keep their top guys sharp and get the chemistry dialed in before they enter the high-stakes playoff grind. And big news for Sens fans: Brady Tkachuk is back . He’s missed the last eight games with an upper-body injury, but he’s jumping right back into his usual spot on the top line with Tim Stützle and Claude Giroux. That’s a massive boost for Ottawa’s energy and physicality.
The projected goalie matchup also adds an interesting layer. Andersen has had a solid season for Carolina, while Linus Ullmark will likely start for the Senators — he’s been steady too, sporting a .911 save percentage and 24 wins. Both teams will be keeping a close eye on health, especially with the playoffs looming, so expect smart shifts and probably limited ice time for some key veterans.
One little milestone worth keeping tabs on — Brent Burns is just one assist away from hitting 100 with the Hurricanes. Whether he plays tonight or not, that’s a cool achievement on the horizon.
And just a quick stat rundown — Carolina’s PK continues to lead the league at 84.3%, while Ottawa’s power play sits at a decent 23.5%. So if the Senators get on the man advantage tonight, that special teams matchup could be a fun one to watch.
All in all, this is a game with two very different mindsets colliding. Carolina wants to get through it healthy and maybe see what some younger guys can do. Ottawa’s looking to tighten the bolts before playoff time, with their captain returning to action. Should be a good one to tune into — 7 p.m. ET, puck drops at Canadian Tire Centre.
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