Senators score comeback win over Hurricanes, but finish without Brady Tkachuk

Drake Batherson of the Ottawa Senators celebrates his goal during the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes. Getty ImagesArticle content

SENATORS 7, HURRICANES 5

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Relax, everybody, relax.

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This was a tough night on the nerves for fans of the Ottawa Senators, but you can take a huge sigh of relief this morning.

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The Senators closed out the season with a third-period comeback 7-5 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night in front of 16,193 at the Canadian Tire Centre, but finished the night without captain Brady Tkachuk.

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It’s okay, though, he says he’s fine, and so does coach Travis Green.

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Returning after missing eight straight games with an upper-body injury he suffered on March 30, Tkachuk didn’t return for the third period after he took a high stick in the face late in the second period.

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He played 10 minutes and 26 seconds.

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Preparing to face the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 1 of the National Hockey League playoffs in a series that will start on Sunday night, Tkachuk was held out by the medical staff.

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“It was obviously precautionary. I took a couple of sticks in the face,” Tkachuk said. “The plan was that I wasn’t going to play much tonight, just get my legs underneath me.

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“That was a Greener, doctors and trainer decision. I got everything I needed tonight. I felt good. It was just precautionary. Nothing to worry about.”

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So you will be able to play Game 1?

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“No issues,” Tkachuk said.

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You can take a huge sigh of relief now.

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He took the high stick from Mark Jankowski and stuck around for the 5-on-3 with five minutes left in the second, but looked shaken up. We’ll have to wait and see.

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Drake Batherson scored twice in the third period, and Adam Gaudette chipped in with his second of the night as the Senators erased a two-goal third-period deficit.

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Tim Stutzle, Shane Pinto and Dylan Cozens also scored.

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This wasn’t a physical game at all. The Senators won’t look this way in Game 1 against the Leafs.

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Goaltender Linus Ullmark, who hadn’t started since the club faced the Montreal Canadiens last Friday at home, wasn’t at his best.

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Carolina scored its fifth unanswered goal at 6:32 of the second to give the Hurricanes a 5-3 lead. Carolina struck for three goals in 5 minutes and 42 seconds.

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The Canes erased a 3-0 deficit by tying it up only 50 seconds into the second period. Andrei Svechnikov scored on the power play to tie it. Jack Roslovic scored the fourth goal at 4:05 of the second.