Senators captain Brady Tkachuk returns against the Carolina Hurricanes

Ottawa Senators left-winger Brady Tkachuk in a file photo from a game against the New Jersey Devils on March 22, in Newark, N.J. Photo by Adam Hunger /THE ASSOCIATED PRESSArticle content

Brady Tkachuk is ready to roll.

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The Ottawa Senators captain was a full participant in Thursday’s morning skate and confirmed he’ll face the Carolina Hurricanes in the regular-season finale at the Canadian Tire Centre.

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“I’m ready to go,” Tkachuk said. “I’m ready to go and finish off the regular season on a high note.”

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Tkachuk has missed eight games and hasn’t suited up since March 30 when he took a hit from Ryan Graves of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He finished that game, but suffered an upper-body injury.

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Though the club’s medical staff would have to sign off on the decision in consultation with Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, and head coach Travis Green, it does sound like Tkachuk wanted to get one game in before the playoffs.

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“I definitely took advantage of it rest-wise, but I want to play every single game every year,” Tkachuk said. “I want to play all 82 games. Things happen that you can’t control, but I feel good, fresh and ready to rock and roll.”

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There will be some rust for Tkachuk to shake off.

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“Hopefully there is not a lot because that means I’m not playing good,” he said. “I’m just going to go out there with a good mindset and get ready to go.”

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Tkachuk has been skating and the Senators could have waited until Game 1 of the series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, but this will help him get some timing back.

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“Especially the little things along the wall, power play, and it will be nice to get some of those reps tonight,” Tkachuk said. “But it’s not going to be a feel-out, ease-it-out, type of game. I know I’m 100% ready, but I want to play at 100% tonight.”

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Coach Travis Green said that Tkachuk isn’t the type of player who will ease himself into anything.

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“He’s not the kind of player that just dips his toe in the water. I don’t want him going out there and just skating around. If he’s going to play, he’s going to play for keeps and he’s going to play for real,” Green said.

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Tkachuk needs only one goal for 30 this season and that would be the fourth straight season he has achieved the feat.

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The club won’t have a full lineup. Defencemen Thomas Chabot and Artem Zub will be spectators for this one. That means veteran Travis Hamonic will suit up for game No. 900 of his career.

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