Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews makes feelings known about Brady Tkachuk after eliminating Senators from playoffs

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews praised Brady Tkachuk after the Leafs eliminated the Ottawa Senators in Round 1 of the playoffs.

The Senators' playoff run ended with a 4-2 loss in Game 6 on Wednesday, marking Brady's first postseason experience.

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After the game, Matthews said that he told Tkachuk he is a strong competitor and leader, and that the Sens would return to the playoffs. He also expressed deep respect for Brady Tkachuk, describing him as an excellent person and player.

"I just told him he's a great competitor, a great leader. They're going to be back. They're a great team, a young team. I got nothing but respect for him. Like you said, I’ve known him a long time. He's a great person, a great player," Matthews said postgame.

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Brady ended the first-round series with seven points accumulated through four goals and three assists in six games.

Auston Matthews and Maple Leafs eliminate Ottawa Senators in Round1

On Thursday, the Toronto Maple Leafs advanced to Round 2 of the playoffs after defeating the Ottawa Senators 4-2 in Game 6 at Canadian Tire Centre.

Auston Matthews was the lone scorer for the Leafs in the opening period, putting the Leafs ahead 1-0 on the power play at 18:50. William Nylander extended the lead to 2-0 just 43 seconds into the second period. At 7:28, Brady Tkachuk cut the deficit to 2-1 for the Senators before heading into the final period.

David Perron tied it 2-2 for the Senators at 12:40 into the third. Just over two minutes later, Max Pacioretty restored the Maple Leafs' lead to 3-2. With less than 20 seconds remaining in the game, Nylander doubled his tally to clinch the series for the Leafs after scoring on the empty net.

Nylander collected three points and Pacioretty notched two points on the night. Goaltender Joseph Woll made 21 saves and posted a .913 save percentage for the Leafs on the night.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be up against the Florida Panthers in Round 2 of their Eastern Conference series.

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta