Brady Tkachuk delivers OT heartbreak for Winnipeg fans with a win that carried memories
WINNIPEG — A certain group of Jets supporters left the arena happier than most when Brady Tkachuk sealed the Ottawa Senators’ overtime victory at 2:11 of the extra session against his hometown Winnipeg Jets.
Tim Stutzle fed a two-on-one chance to Tkachuk, who fired a one-timer past Connor Hellebuyck for the decisive goal. Tkachuk had family in the stands, including his maternal grandfather, making the moment personally meaningful.
“It’s special to play in front of my grandpa, my family, and it’s just nice to be here,” Tkachuk said. “There are many memories here with my dad, my grandpa, and my mom who’s from this area. I always get excited when I come back.”
Tkachuk’s father, Keith, was a star for the original Jets franchise, adding another layer of local significance to the game.
The goal was Tkachuk’s second of the season. He had missed 20 games with a thumb injury suffered on October 13 and returned on November 28. He also contributed nine assists so far.
“It’s been a grind to a certain extent,” he noted. “But I’m really happy with the two points in the end.”
Nick Cousins opened the scoring for Ottawa, and Jake Sanderson added a goal and an assist for the Senators (15-13-4).
Linus Ullmark stopped 23 shots in goal for Ottawa, who have dropped to 2-4-0 over their last six games.
Senators head coach Travis Green praised his team’s resilience, especially in the third period: “They had us on our heels, and I loved how we stuck with it. I’ve been saying we’ve liked our play lately, even when wins aren’t coming, and I was pleased with what we did.”
For Winnipeg, defencemen Neal Pionk and Logan Stanley found the back of the net. Hellebuyck, back from an injury, stopped 28 shots as the Jets slipped to 1-3-1 in their past five.
After a scoreless first period, Cousins put Ottawa ahead at 10:47 of the second. Winnipeg responded with goals from Pionk and Stanley late in the frame.
With Ullmark pulled for an extra attacker, Sanderson forced OT by knocking a shot off Jets center Mark Scheifele’s stick with 1:54 left in the third.
The Jets had chances to close it out but couldn’t seal the deal, a feeling echoed by the team’s leadership.
Having staged late comebacks can feel rewarding, Tkachuk admitted, even if the end result is a loss. “We lead the league in losses by one goal, and we emphasized six-on-five not getting denied,” he said. “A bit of puck luck helped, and we’re due for that kind of moment.”
Winnipeg dropped a 3-2 decision to Minnesota the previous Saturday after Joel Eriksson Ek scored with 24 seconds left in regulation.
Jets head coach Scott Arniel lamented the missed opportunity to close out a win: “These are the games you’ve got to win. You have to learn how to win; we need to find a way, either by scoring that third goal or preventing a late one against. We’ve got to figure it out.”
Stanley agreed with Arniel’s assessment, acknowledging a strong effort but a disappointing outcome: “It was a good, very winnable game that we found a way to lose.”
Winnipeg’s four-game homestand ended 1-2-1, and they shift focus to a three-game road stretch beginning Wednesday at St. Louis. Arniel urged the team to gain momentum on the road, saying, “We didn’t take care of business at home, so we must seize points on the road.”
END OF DUBIOUS STREAK
A small bright spot for Winnipeg: the team did not allow a power-play goal, snapping a streak of at least one PP goal allowed in eight straight games. Ottawa went 0-for-3 on the advantage, while Winnipeg was 0-for-2.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2025.
Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
