The Ottawa Senators closed out the 2024-25 regular season with an unconventional 7-5 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Senators vaulted to a 3-0 first-period lead, but the Hurricanes, playing without six regulars,

This was the Senators' final tune-up before the playoffs, and fans suffered a late scare when captain Brady Tkachuk was forced off the ice and did not return for the third period after taking a stick to the face in the second frame.

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Brady Tkachuk says he’s ready to go. After missing the Senators’ last eight games because of an upper-body injury, the Ottawa captain returned to the lineup Thursday night for the regular-season finale against Carolina but didn’t finish the game.