Original subtitles

[ominous music playing]

[Bissonnette] Just when I thought last year couldn't be topped...

[shrieking]

...here we are.

-[all] Hey! Hey! -[rhythmic clapping]

Or do you want nothing to do with it when you guys are playing physical up front?

[Subban] Let's face it.

[announcer] We're ready to go.

Hockey's always been the plucky underdog.

[announcer] Wow! You can feel the pent-up energy and excitement.

[tense music playing]

[Subban] But this year...

Watch this.

[announcer] Right off, they're hot!

No, no, no, no, no. This year's a turning of the page.

[laughing] Like, what is this, bro.

-[man] Oh! -Oh, I'm a bad man.

Get the fuck out of my face.

[laughs]

Hockey's having a moment.

-[announcer] Crosby scores! -[fans cheer]

Crosby.

It's amazing he's at his age, still doing the same stuff.

The Ovechkin goal chase.

[announcer] Here is Ovechkin! He scores!

Number 895!

You get to 900, I might buy you a car.

The 4 Nations.

[announcer] Nothing has felt as big, as important.

Ha!

This was on, like, a global stage.

This might be the top five biggest hockey moments in American history.

Just wait.

[Subban] It was about pride and playing for your country.

[announcer] The chance for one of these players to be a national hero.

[man] Go! Oh, my God.

We are elbowing our way into the conversation.

[announcer] Wow!

[B. Tkachuk] Won't even look at me after, eh?

Oh, fuck!

[Subban] So, yeah.

Those players behind the mask...

-Boom. -...it's their moment now.

[B. Tkachuk] It's a dream come true.

[Subban] Question is...

what are they gonna do with it?

[announcer] Brady Tkachuk scores!

-Tkachuk scores! -Yeah!

[announcer] Brady Tkachuk!

[intense music playing]

[man laughing]

I can't believe we're doing this right now.

[B. Tkachuk] Why, are you nervous?

[Pinto] I'll start.

-Hey, how about I'll start. -No, no, no. Start regular.

-I'm gonna fucking attack your neck. -Okay, I'll let you go.

I'm gonna win.

[both laughing]

I'll let you...

[grunts]

Uh-oh, it's over.

[man] Shoulder up!

There it is.

[both laugh]

You've never done that, bro.

[man] Early and often.

Why's your neck so red?

What'd you call him?

[all laugh]

Well, that's our infamous fight. That's what we usually do.

So hopefully, it was entertaining.

[B. Tkachuk] I'm Brady Tkachuk. I'm captain of the Ottawa Senators.

[producer] Last year, in 2024...

[crowd cheering]

[announcer] The Florida Panthers have won the Stanley Cup!

[cackling]

[laughter and sobbing]

[whooping]

[producer] Take me back to that night.

What was it like watching the moment that your brother lifted the Cup?

[inspiring music playing]

[B. Tkachuk] As a brother, I was just so happy for him, you know.

But, I mean, of course I'm a competitor, and that's always been my dream too.

I think I've seen my dad cry twice in our life.

Oh, my God!

I really wanted it to be me to hand that Cup off to him

and be the first Tkachuk to win the Stanley Cup.

[announcer] Keith Tkachuk, a distinguished 18-year career,

but Matthew has just done something that he did not do.

[K. Tkachuk] Unfortunately, I never had a chance to win it.

To see your son live out his dream

and to be able to carry that Stanley Cup around the ice,

that was incredible.

[all cheering]

[B. Tkachuk] I think that's what makes the Stanley Cup so special,

is that you don't touch it until you win it.

So, of course I didn't touch it.

He's got one Stanley Cup and I got zero.

He's got the one-up on me.

Just like when we were kids.

[Chantal] Come on, Braeden, get in there.

[B. Tkachuk] Everything growing up, no matter what we were doing,

it was competition.

[Chantal] Hey.

One, two, three.

Oh!

[B. Tkachuk] I was mainly losing.

[Chantal] Oh, Matthew, that's too rough.

-I don't know... -[K. Tkachuk] Hey!

Brady. Hey.

[announcer chattering on TV]

[Chantal] All right!

[B. Tkachuk] Growing up, we played hockey against each other.

Game 7 to win the Stanley Cup.

It felt like I've been in his shadow our whole lives.

Like felt that "little brother" syndrome,

where everything was about him.

[Chantal] Holy smoke!

Good one, Matthew.

[K. Tkachuk] Yeah!

[Chantal] Brady, are you fixing the sand?

[M. Tkachuk] When we were younger, I could bully him.

-[squealing] -[Chantal] Matthew and Braeden!

But I'm done messing with him.

He definitely has the size on me now.

[crowd cheering]

[announcer] The Tkachuks face off against each other.

I think if you'd ask my parents, Brady's a lot nicer.

But then when he goes on the ice, he's a freak.

[B. Tkachuk] Go, go, go, go!

-[grunts] -[referee] Hey, hey, hey, hey!

[announcer 1] And Bobrovsky goes after Tkachuk!

[announcer 2] And here comes Brady Tkachuk.

Tkachuk fires it across.

Sanderson with a chance!

[M. Tkachuk] Playing each other, he won't look at me as a brother.

I won't look at him as a brother.

We're both very passionate, emotional players.

We'll try to do whatever it takes to win.

[M. Tkachuk] Yeah. Fuck, yeah, baby!

Boys we gotta start hitting again. Go, go, go, go.

[M. Tkachuk] I think when it comes to style of play,

he's the epitome of a power forward.

And the best one that's in hockey right now,

whether it's his speed...

[B. Tkachuk] Hey, hey, hey!

[M. Tkachuk] His skill, his physicality.

[B. Tkachuk] Hey, hey, hey, hey!

Yeah!

[announcer] Put out in front. Brady Tkachuk scores!

And Ottawa's got the 1-0 lead.

[B. Tkachuk] That's it, boys.

[M. Tkachuk] Brady's like a spitting image of how my dad was as a player.

Brady has an appetite to do what his brother did.

He supports his brother, but he wants what his brother has.

[announcer] Matthew Tkachuk looks to the net.

-Scores! -[crowd cheers]

[horns blow]

Brady Tkachuk's career has kind of flown under the radar a little bit.

Matthew's the cool older brother.

Yay! Whoo!

[Nurse] He lives in Florida. He drives a golf cart.

He won the Stanley Cup.

And when you think of Brady and a team like Ottawa,

they're kind of like almost forgotten.

[Blackburn] The Senators have gone through rebuilds,

management changes, you name it.

There's been times where they've had the makings of a playoff team,

but it just hasn't come together.

And now they've got the third-longest playoff drought in the NHL,

all under Brady's leadership.

[B. Tkachuk] Everybody knows here that we haven't really accomplished anything.

We haven't made playoffs.

Which is hard, embarrassing.

It's been a long seven years,

and last year we didn't live up to the expectations.

And not even close, to be honest of you.

[Pinto] Brady has poured his life into this organization.

And when you're losing, it obviously sucks.

It's not easy on us either as a team.

[B. Tkachuk] I see what Matthew did.

It's the winning that ends up, you know, being remembered,

and that's what your legacy becomes.

Disappointing that whenever you think of the Ottawa Senators and losing,

that you think of me.

[crowd cheering]

-[B. Tkachuk] That's it, boys. -[announcer 1] Brady Tkachuk.

[announcer 2] He leads the league in a lot of categories.

When you look at those analytics, he really drives the bus here in Ottawa.

[man] That's it, BT! Fucking right!

Heads up.

[grunts]

-[player] Hey! -[B. Tkachuk] That's fucking bad!

That's embarrassing!

My best games that I've played throughout my career is when...

Go!

Go, go, go!

...I bring that emotion.

And the flip side is when maybe things aren't going so well.

Oh, give me a fucking break.

I think I get so angry and pissed off that sometimes it works against me.

[grunting]

Fuck off!

[Stützle] He wants to win really bad.

That's just the kind of player he is.

But I think sometimes, it gets a little bit too hard.

[PA announcer] Ottawa 7, that's two minutes.

We need him on the ice more often.

[B. Tkachuk] Go, go, go, go, go!

Bring it up, bring it up!

Yeah.

Hey, hey, hey!

[horn blows]

[Blackburn] The Senators haven't been playoff contenders for almost a decade,

so Brady's never even had a shot at winning a Stanley Cup like his brother.

But because of his talent,

he finally has that chance to be a champion...

[dramatic music playing]

...at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Yeah!

4 Nations is the biggest thing to happen to hockey in a decade.

It's the first international best-on-best hockey

for this generation of players.

Some of the best players we've ever seen

are getting their first crack at international play.

You want to be the best country in the world.

It's about being on top,

not just for the people in that room, but your country.

[Blackburn] The United States, Canada,

Finland and Sweden

are gonna battle it out for international hockey supremacy.

[crowd cheers]

-Yeah! -USA!

USA, baby! Whoo!

Like, for our group, we're proud Americans and we want to make the country proud.

[Nurse] The level of hockey and the level of talent,

there's so much to appreciate and get excited about.

[Crosby] I think guys are excited,

you know, regardless of what country they're playing for.

Every big name in hockey is playing.

Nathan MacKinnon,

Sidney Crosby,

Connor McDavid.

There are so many storylines in this tournament.

Brady and Matthew Tkachuk finally playing together.

[player] Feet!

[B. Tkachuk] He's the guy I look up to.

He's the guy I learn from and want to emulate.

When we were kids, nobody ever thought this was gonna turn into a reality

that we were gonna be playing together here at the 4 Nations.

There's just really something special.

You ask our ten-year-old selves that we have this opportunity ahead of us.

It's a dream scenario, and now it's just up to us

to go make it count and make a big impact.

[Sullivan] One of the things that we've talked about

was what it's gonna take to win.

[whistle blows]

Talent is essential.

What I will also tell you is talent alone

isn't gonna bring us success.

-[whistle blows] -Tag up! Tag up!

Attitude, effort and self-sacrifice.

You're gonna lift us up, you're gonna drag us down.

This is just a whole new experience for me.

I really wanted to show that, you know,

I'm meant to belong here and will do whatever it takes

to help the US win.

[suspenseful music playing]

-[announcer] Score! -[crowd cheers]

[announcer] Some open ice.

Matthew Tkachuk all the way around.

[tense music playing]

Score for Matthew Tkachuk!

Four third-period goals for Team USA,

and they end up running away from Finland with a 6-1 win.

[indistinct chatter]

[B. Tkachuk] Being married and having a kid,

I really think that's made me into who I am today.

[Emma] I feel like Matthew's leading us the wrong way.

I've gone here before.

Just working my arms today.

Not being at home a lot.

Just when we're together, we're a whole family.

It's all about enjoying that time that we usually don't get.

[all] Cheers!

Let's keep it going.

[laughter]

[K. Tkachuk] I'm just glad I met Chantal.

-[man] That looks good. -So we can have this.

[laughs]

He's just making up for the fact that he forgot it was Valentine's today.

Yeah.

We're still on a high, so I got an excuse.

Two boys playing in the biggest tournament of their careers is incredible.

[producer] Did you shed a tear?

-No. -[all laugh]

No.

[M. Tkachuk] Brady goes in front of the boys before the game, I was like,

"Hey, Brady, just a heads-up that this is what these games feel like."

-[laughter] -In front of everybody.

And he goes, "I like these games."

[all laugh]

-They were crying laughing. -[K. Tkachuk] That's brutal.

The red, white and blue hat? Budweiser?

-You like it? -Had to represent?

Yeah. I didn't want to wear the USA hat around today.

I mean, they hate the US here.

[suspenseful music playing]

Tomorrow's probably gonna be something

that we haven't seen before with the hatred.

[announcer] Hockey's greatest international rivalry

is about to be renewed.

Tomorrow, it might be a whole different beast.

The shenanigans we're about to pull.

It's gonna be intense, so...

[announcer] For the first time in nine years,

the USA and Canada will do battle.

Brady Tkachuk calling tonight the biggest game of his life to date.

Late in shifts, we got to make hard...

[B. Tkachuk] Saturday night, Bell Centre versus Canada,

something that we've dreamt of our whole lives.

And playing against some of the best players in the world, it's...

There's really no stage better than that.

[man] Left wing, Brady Tkachuk.

[all cheer and applaud]

Center...

[B. Tkachuk] I remember I was nervous.

I didn't even know how I'd play,

and if I'd even survive in those big moments.

But I wouldn't let that opportunity get wasted.

[announcer] The United States and Canada.

For many, it's a dream that's about to come true.

[Nurse] That rivalry between nations in the hockey world was forgotten.

And to come back in here all these years later,

it reignited that flame.

♪ O'er the land... ♪

[crowd booing]

♪ ...of the free ♪

♪ And the home ♪

♪ Of the brave ♪

[Bissonnette] I don't want to bring politics to it too much,

but it just felt more than just about a game.

And hockey is Canada's sport,

and we're very passionate and prideful of that.

And it was always on the American squad,

they wanted to strip that title of Canada.

And that's why it got to the level it did.

Hey, Benny. Hey, Benny.

After these couple...

Next change.

Just wait.

[announcer] It is the hockey rivalry.

But in this rink, on this night,

after those anthems,

it feels like there's more at stake than usual.

[B. Tkachuk] Go get 'em. Go fuckin' get 'em.

That place was unbelievable. Jammed.

And then when I found out that Matthew and Brady, they were playing together,

opening face-off, starting lineup, I just...

I had a feeling something was gonna happen.

[announcer] The Tkachuk brothers are on the ice flanking Jack Eichel.

[K. Tkachuk] I see Matthew skating around. I could see something going on.

I think they're gonna go right here.

[whistle blows]

[referee] On the ice and wait for me. Jack first.

Watch this.

[announcer] And this 4 Nation Face-Off matchup is underway.

And the gloves are off.

Oh, my God!

-[man] Fucking get 'em! -[announcer] Tkachuk and Branden Hagel.

Hagel.

I was like, "Okay, please do not get your ass kicked."

[announcer] Right off the hop.

[player] Brady! Brady!

Get 'em! Yeah! Yeah!

-Brady! -[B. Tkachuk] Fucking right! Fuck, yeah!

And then once he got into it and he was throwing punches,

I couldn't have been more fired up, ready to go.

Yeah! Yeah!

Yeah!

Yeah!

[announcer] I did not see this coming.

[B. Tkachuk] Yeah, fucking right! Fuck, yeah!

Fuck, yeah!

If you're gonna do it, you want to do it right, so he did it.

When that was over, the place went absolutely crazy.

-[crowd cheering] -[announcer 1] The tone's been set.

[announcer 2] Has it ever.

I'm like shaking.

I'm shaking

[K. Tkachuk] And then once that stopped, my heart was still racing.

And, uh...

And I said, "It ain't done yet, Chantal."

[laughs]

Here we go again.

[players shouting]

["Renegade" by Styx playing]

[announcer 1] Oh, here you go.

[whistle blows]

[crowd cheering]

This is unreal!

It was just such a whirlwind of emotion and adrenaline

that I've never felt before in my life.

["Renegade" continues playing]

[announcer] So the Tkachuks

both get involved early.

[B. Tkachuk] Everything happens instinctually.

You're just kind of in the moment. And you're just kind of just throwing.

And if you connect, you just throw another one.

[announcer] Brady gets the better of this one.

[crowd cheering]

[crowd boos]

That's your kids.

I mean, that's just the Tkachuks.

[referee] USA number 7, Canada number 9.

Five minutes each for fighting.

It can happen so fast.

And then I came to the box, and he was pretty fired up.

That's it!

Fuck, yeah. Aye. Fuck, yeah.

-I got him good. -Yeah, you did.

-How was mine, good? -Unbelievable.

I didn't have that on my bingo card.

[M. Tkachuk] I was just super proud of Brady

because it is not an easy thing to do, to fight in an environment like that.

But, you know, we want to show that we are an actual team.

I thought we did a great job of showing our unity in that moment.

It's just such an honor to be able to, you know, set the tone

and really try to create positive momentum for the team.

[announcer] Played away by Jack Eichel.

Across the line, playing it down low.

And they score!

Jake Guentzel ties it for the United States.

Away goes Larkin. It's a two on one.

Larkin scores!

Team USA has the lead.

Ninety seconds left, third period. Larkin with the open net.

The pass to Guentzel.

Scores!

Yeah!

[announcer] And the United States is going to play for the title

of this inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off.

Daddy likey.

[Blackburn] The start of that game was crazy,

but the lingering effects and the shock waves that it sent,

I don't think that anybody could have seen that coming.

[man] This might be the top five biggest hockey moments in American history,

and what it's done to ignite people and their interest in hockey.

It's all anybody on Twitter was tweeting about.

[rock music playing]

[B. Tkachuk] It's like, I don't even think it's hit yet.

It's crazy how just everything that has evolved

and just where we're at,

and it was just such an amazing experience.

Stanley Cup champion Matthew Tkachuk.

Matthew and Brady made a little tour after that

on some late-night shows and different things.

We have the brothers of the NHL, Matthew and Brady Tkachuk!

Welcome to the show, baby!

Love the energy. Thank you.

Suddenly, Brady is not just Matthew's younger brother.

He is a star in his own right.

And now, American hero Brady Tkachuk.

The man, the myth, the legend.

-It's Captain America, it's Brady Tkachuk. -Brady Tkachuk.

-Can I call you Captain America? -Sure, I guess.

[K. Tkachuk] And it was great for people

who really weren't hockey fans going into this and seeing that.

It was just great for the game. It really was.

There's been so many people that, like, Brady and Matthew should get

a check from the NHL, ten million each.

Oh, they will.

When you mix celebrity and hockey,

it comes twofold.

You're a hockey player, you want to perfect your craft.

But at the same time, you want to grow the game.

And by being out there,

by being on talk shows and podcasts and showing yourself

and your personality, you're able to grow the game.

[TV host] And you at home can catch Matthew and Brady tonight,

right here on ABC when Team USA takes on Canada.

The puck drops at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

[traffic ambience]

When you score, there should be just one puck.

-I was telling him. -[man] I like that.

How are you doing? Good?

Okay. I got one more in me for the year.

The first Canada game in the third period, I just got a pass behind me a little bit

and went to plant my foot or dig in my foot,

and just heard something that you're not supposed to hear.

[whistle blows]

[foreboding music playing]

And at that moment I'm like, "Fuck."

Like, I'm--

I've never felt what I just felt. Like, that's not good.

Hey, can you do me a favor?

Can you play far side this one?

Yeah. I'm trying to limit as much as...

Try to limit as much of my skating right now as possible.

If you can.

All right, I don't like-- I don't like that. I don't like that.

[B. Tkachuk] It was unfortunate that Matthew was definitely hurting.

There was more pressure to perform,

but, uh, I felt like I started making a name for myself

and I have an opportunity to be a champion.

[intense music playing]

[man] USA! USA!

USA!

-[excited shouting] -USA!

[announcer] Once in a lifetime.

From Boston here tonight, Canada and the US

one final time for this 4 Nations Face-Off championship.

[crowd cheering]

Everyone's feeling it.

Players that have won Stanley Cups.

These fucking guys don't know what they're in for here.

[announcer] Putting this right up there with it.

You guys are gonna do something tonight that we haven't done in a long time.

Let's get to it, boys.

[applause]

[announcer] The rivalry that continues to escalate.

The rematch of Saturday night's instant classic.

On the gas! On the gas!

[announcer] For one of these players,

the chance to be a national hero.

Alongside your friend, remember.

[B. Tkachuk] You guys versus Canada, and now the final game.

Fuck you!

It was bigger than just a hockey game.

I'm visualizing, you know, raising the trophy

and lifting it and celebrating with it.

And I just want to be a winner.

[crowd] USA!

USA! USA!

[M. Tkachuk] Everything that went into it, you know,

like the... you know, stuff going on between US and Canada, the boos.

[crowd murmuring]

-[indistinct chatter] -[whistle blows]

You know, whether you're a hockey fan or not, you were watching it.

I want it-- I want it at the net.

[player] Good hit.

Go, go, go!

[B. Tkachuk] The first couple of shifts,

I knew I was just gonna crash the net and just create havoc.

[announcer] Brady Tkachuk down in front.

I saw it kind of hit my stick, and...

And then...

[announcer] Now a wraparound by Matthews, and they score!

[all cheer]

Ah!

Goal!

-[all cheer] -[player] Yeah, go!

[announcer 1] Brady Tkachuk nudged it home!

[announcer 2] Elation for Brady Tkachuk and the US, it's 1-1.

[B. Tkachuk] At first, I couldn't believe it.

And then just to feel that roar from the Garden.

It was unbelievable.

Yeah!

Fuck, yeah! Come on!

[K. Tkachuk] I think that was huge for him

to go showcase himself

and feel good about himself that, you know, he deserved to be there.

Come on!

[announcer] Brady Tkachuk is igniting this crowd.

And we got ourselves a 1-1 game.

[M. Tkachuk] Seeing the way the momentum was,

and him getting it right back for us right after they made it one-nothing.

It was huge.

[announcer] And we're heading to overtime.

They played the whole third period without Matthew Tkachuk,

who's been one of the stars of Team USA

throughout this tournament alongside his brother Brady.

[Sullivan] Okay, gang, we knew it was gonna be a battle.

We knew it was gonna be a battle. So here we are.

It's been an unbelievable ride here.

This team was built for this moment.

Now it's time to finish the job, right? We have to fucking finish the job.

[Cooper] All right, hey, it's been a hell of a fucking game.

Your effort has been phenomenal.

It's not done, all right?

All these little things we did to get here is now for the big moment.

Don't fucking defer.

You have a chance to shoot it in the fucking net,

you shoot it in the fucking net.

All right? Be a Canadian hero. Let's go, boys. Come on.

[applause]

[announcer 1] These players on both sides have played in some huge games,

but I can't imagine what's going through the hearts

and minds and bodies of these participants right now.

[announcer 2] Nothing has felt as big, as important,

as emotional as this game tonight.

It's a dream come true.

[announcer 1] The specter of overtime looming large to Brady Tkachuk,

who's been a standout again tonight for Team USA.

Who's going to score the game-winning goal and enhance his legacy?

[tense music playing]

[announcer] Scores!

Connor McDavid wins it for Canada!

[horn blowing]

Oh, my-- Fuck!

[somber music playing]

-Congrats. -Great job, man.

[M. Tkachuk] Brady was one of the best players in the whole tournament.

So I think that that tournament in itself kind of helped solidify him

as one of the best players in the league.

[K. Tkachuk] I think it helped him grow and mature as a player,

seeing his brother.

What Matthew has put into this, it just doesn't happen overnight.

It's a-- It's a long process.

And I think that helped Brady, witnessing that and being around it.

And I think that really helped him.

And it showed on the ice.

[B. Tkachuk] For me, that whole tournament was,

you know, the biggest games that I played in my career to date.

And I think that adversity that we faced is gonna help us

in the Olympics to win gold.

And I learned so much from so many guys there.

The way they led, the way they compose themselves.

I felt like it just elevated me to get back to Ottawa

and be an even better version of myself.

[radio caller] As we move towards playoffs then,

trying to make sense of what teams are, you know, likely Cup contenders,

do you worry about the Ottawa Senators?

[radio host] No question.

[Ryder crying]

[Emma] I know, bubby. Driving so long.

[B. Tkachuk] Sorry.

I'm really lucky that I've had the experience of 4 Nations,

and I really think that's helped me off the ice, on the ice,

as a leader especially, and just trying to bring that to the team.

Every game means so much at this point in the season.

And we definitely got a little stress in there as well,

but just trying to stay levelheaded

and not ride the highs and the lows as much.

[turn signal clicking]

Oh, no. It's not icy.

[Emma] I think these have been worn twice since I've owned them.

You're skating as fast as I do in the D zone.

-Is that fast? -No.

Oh.

-Are we going in? -[B. Tkachuk] Oh, yeah. Let's go in.

Mommy almost went down.

[Emma] Mommy doesn't really know what she's doing.

[B. Tkachuk] You skating with Daddy?

[lighthearted music playing]

A lot of the best part of your day is being with family.

I like just spending time, especially this year, the road,

coming back home has been the highlight,

and just spending time with, you know, Emma and Ryder,

and see how much he grows and develops

every single time I leave.

It's... It's been amazing.

Ottawa, it's a great place to live. Great place to raise a family.

And it's what really means most in life is raising,

you know, a happy, healthy son.

But I want to experience playing really meaningful hockey.

That hasn't happened since I've gotten here.

That's frustrating.

[Blackburn] Brady Tkachuk is an incredible player

on an underachieving team.

It's no surprise that his name keeps getting brought up

in trade rumor after trade rumor,

especially after what his brother did a few years ago.

[B. Tkachuk] For Matthew to get traded,

goes to Florida, wins the Stanley Cup,

that puts a little expectation on me.

Everybody ties what he did,

and everybody's expecting me to do the same thing.

It's just two different stories.

Matthew went on his path, and it worked out for him.

My path is chugging along and grinding it out

and winning the Stanley Cup for the Ottawa Senators.

[talk show host 1] Matthew Tkachuk on long-term IR.

I think it's a four-week injury that they're giving seven.

[talk show host 2] This is a serious injury.

It affects almost every movement he can make on ice.

[M. Tkachuk] I don't think people at home realize

that when guys are out,

your days are way harder.

You're by yourself for most of it.

You don't know if you're gonna be back and ready to go.

It really sucks.

I probably watched more hockey now that I've been,

uh, I've been out than I was when I was playing.

And I watch every night.

I've actually really enjoyed watching Brady.

He's fighting for a chance to play for the first time in his career in playoffs.

He is really dragging his team into the mix

because without him, I don't know where they'd be right now.

Making playoffs, that would help shutting up the haters.

After the 4 Nations,

he knows exactly what he needs to know.

Now just go do it.

[B. Tkachuk] That's it, fucking right.

[announcer] 10:40 to go.

Third period. Rangers leading 3-1.

We're battling positions with the Rangers for the wild card.

Biggest game of the year to date.

Two! Two! Two!

Just kept saying, 'We're gonna win this game."

Go, go, go!

Doesn't matter how we do it.

Balance!

[announcer] Brady Tkachuk is in it and on it.

He is playing hard. He's playing heavy.

[B. Tkachuk] East-west!

[announcer] Willing to drive. Willing to shoot.

[B. Tkachuk] Hey! Hey, hammer! Hammer!

I mean, it was kind of the first time that I'd ever really

used that experience from 4 Nations into a game.

Go, go, go, go!

[shouting]

Hey!

[announcer] Watching. Hands the shot. Loose puck! They score!

[horns blow]

Ottawa within one.

[B. Tkachuk] I just kept saying to the guys,

"We're gonna try to find a way to win and have that belief that we can do it."

[announcer] Now a shot-- Falling.

Another chance here for Amadio.

Loose puck! They score!

Fuck, yeah!

[announcer] Michael Amadio has tied it up!

The Ottawa Senators have forced an overtime

against the New York Rangers.

-Whoo! -Go, go, go!

[announcer] Stützle taking a look in overtime. Far side, Tkachuk...

Scores!

[B. Tkachuk] Yeah!

[announcer] Your captain, the overtime hero against New York.

Man was on a mission to lead by example tonight.

Mission accomplished.

[Green] Great fucking job.

-Fuck, yeah, boys! -[all cheer]

[Green] Hell of a fucking job.

Enjoy it for a few fucking hours.

But we got to be ready to fucking go, all right? Great job.

[applause]

[B. Tkachuk] After 4 Nations, there's kind of a new standard for myself

that I wanted to prove that this is the year

that we change the time.

Yeah! Fuck, yeah!

Fuck, yeah!

We become a playoff team,

and every game was a Game 7.

Go! Go! Go!

[announcer 1] Zub puts it on target.

And they score!

[announcer 2] Four goals in four games for...

[announcer 1] Brady Tkachuk, near the net, tips it home.

It must've been electric playing the 4 Nations tournament.

[B. Tkachuk] Oh, it was a lot of fun.

[boy] Brady Tkachuk!

[upbeat music playing]

[B. Tkachuk] I believe in what we're doing here.

I believe in myself.

Yeah!

Come on!

And also, I'm happy to be representing a winning team.

[player] Three!

[announcer] Stützle carries it.

Off to Tkachuk.

Tkachuk scores!

[horns blow]

[announcer shouting]

Scores! Brady Tkachuk!

Power play goal!

[B. Tkachuk] Nothing but belief here. Nothing but fucking belief.

[producer] You've become the kinda face of hockey right now.

Does it feel like that?

No. Just want to focus on what we're doing day in, day out.

Go, go. Just go. Just go.

[announcer] Tkachuk, back door. He scores!

[Blackburn] In February, they were 2-5-0.

In March, they were 10-3-2.

Brady Tkachuk got that taste to play meaningful hockey

and never looked back, and the Senators,

now they're on the cusp of ending a seven-year playoff drought.

[announcer] And he's on the move.

To Sanderson, they score!

Brady Tkachuk tips it home!

[Nurse] Over the past few seasons,

the Senators have had that young core that's so exciting.

They have a lot of talent.

And I think now it's an exciting time

because the pieces look like they're coming together.

And the leadership that Brady Tkachuk has shown

I think is gonna be the X-factor

that can help propel Ottawa into the playoffs.

[announcer] To Tkachuk, and he scores!

-Wow. -Come on, baby!

Come on. Fucking love you.

[players cheer]

Fucking right, boys!

[radio dial tuning]

[radio host 1] The eight-year drought is over, baby!

[radio host 2] Playoff hockey is back, baby, in the nation's capital.

[radio host 1] Holy cow!

Playoff hockey is finally back in Ottawa!

[radio host 2] They did it. They did it. They did it.

[radio host 3] The Ottawa Senators are playoff bound.

[radio host 4] Finally, Brady Tkachuk is playing playoff hockey.

[radio host 5] Brady Tkachuk. I mean, I am just salivating

to see what he can do after watching him at the 4 Nations.

I mean, he is ready. He is gonna come out guns a-blazing.

I cannot wait to see what Brady does in the playoffs.

[radio host 6] Toronto Maple Leafs do not want this smoke.

Uh, it's been a long time coming.

I'm happy for the city.

[Nurse] So the Senators clinched a playoff spot.

It's everything. We're so excited.

It's a huge win already for the players, for Brady Tkachuk.

I got hope in our captain right there.

[Nurse] And, of course, for the fans.

I believe in him. Amazing guy.

Brady means everything to this team.

He's the heart and soul of this team.

He's throwing the body around. He's getting the boys fired up.

It's just like night and day.

He's gonna be a beast in the playoffs like he was in the 4 Nations.

We're taking the long way, guys.

[laughs]

[K. Tkachuk] After everything this year,

getting into the playoffs,

representing his fan bases,

it was so special.

[B. Tkachuk] But being a dad, it's just a dream come true.

-[Ryder cooing] -[Brady baby-talking]

Nice!

[Brady, gasping] Who's that?

Is that Daddy?

What makes me so happy is spending time with Emma and Ryder.

What do you think Daddy is going into the penalty box for?

[Bissonnette] Brady had a reputation where he would shed the mitts

probably too much, right?

Progressively, he's kind of worked on changing that reputation

where he understands that he's more valuable on the ice and to his team

parked in front of the net scoring goals

than he is caving your face in.

You trying to bite my hands now?

[B. Tkachuk] Favorite moments are times like this.

Just hang out, not think about hockey,

not think about any of the stresses.

Just being able to be a dad has been the best thing in the world.

[Norris] I've known him since he was 15,

and he's always talked about how excited he is to be a dad.

[Pinto] To be a dad, you need to be super mature and ready for that.

And he showed that he is.

It's just so surreal, honestly.

Yeah, it's really cool to see him as a parent.

[B. Tkachuk] Yeah, tummy time.

You're like, "What's going on?"

Whoa!

Going for a lap around the kitchen.

[K. Tkachuk] I love all my kids, but Brady has the biggest heart.

Brady is the most caring person in our family.

He's a great son. He's a great father.

[B. Tkachuk] Superman.

[K. Tkachuk] I think being a dad has really helped him.

It helped him grow and mature as a player.

He's learning to change, and how to approach the game.

[B. Tkachuk] This is our entertainment.

[M. Tkachuk] He's an unbelievable dad,

and I'm just very impressed with the player he's become.

It's been really cool to see

how much he's grown up in the last six months.

Mwah!

I love you, okay? Let me go warm up. I'll see you over there.

Being a dad, being a husband, being a captain.

There's just a lot more responsibilities.

I am seeing the growth in me as an individual.

Did he smile?

Being only 25, I'm excited to see where I'll be at in five, ten years,

and how much growth I'll have even more.

[fans] Go, Sens, go!

Go, Sens, go! Go, Sens, go!

[Blackburn] The Senators are about to host their first playoff game

in almost a decade,

and the city is hyped.

[fans] Go, Sens, go!

[B. Tkachuk] It's a dream come true to be able to play in the playoffs.

Show everybody what we're made of.

I know everybody's so fired up for it.

-Got more people in here. -Ah, there you go.

Guys, how are we doing? Doing great, thanks.

[Bissonnette] There were a lot of goals for Brady coming into the season.

One of them 4 Nations, the other making playoffs.

Now that he's there, he has that taste of it

and knows exactly what it's gonna take to eventually do what his brother did,

and that's hoist the Stanley Cup.

[Blackburn] Brady took the first step out of his brother's shadow

by willing his team into the playoffs.

But there's another shadow looming large.

[B. Tkachuk] That's it, boys.

[Blackburn] Ottawa's big brother, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

[announcer] Game 3, battle of Ontario.

Ring the bell.

[Redmond] You talk about Brady Tkachuk feeling like

he operates within this shadow of his brother.

I think the Senators probably felt a little bit of that, like,

"little bro-ism" because in Canada,

especially Ontario,

it is all about the Leafs.

[Nurse] A win for Ottawa in a battle of Ontario scenario

scenario would be devastating for Toronto,

and I think would be pretty monumental for Ottawa.

[announcer] The Ottawa Senators taking the ice.

I think it was pretty fitting that my first playoff experience

was the battle of Ontario.

We're not the little brother anymore.

Now we're here to play, and we're here to play for a lot more years to come.

Our fucking game, boys. Our fucking game.

[announcer] The first home playoff game in almost eight years

for the Ottawa Senators.

[man] Come on!

The rinks get smaller in the playoffs.

It gets more intense.

That feeds right into Brady.

The emotions are gonna be running wild. He's gonna be jacked up.

This is a whole different beast.

[Bissonnette] You claw, you fight.

You go through this 82-game grind.

And then all of a sudden, it's a puck drop and it's like,

the work is just all beginning right now.

[B. Tkachuk] We have so much skill, so much talent.

I don't see a team that can handle us in a best of seven.

I mean, what's stopping us?

[tense music swelling]