Brady Tkachuk commits a careless penalty during overtime against Connor McDavid, causing the Ottawa Senators to lose a game they could have won against the Edmonton Oilers.
This is every captain’s worst fear. One tired move, one poor choice, and the game changes completely.
A clip from TSN shows Tkachuk bringing down McDavid in overtime, giving Edmonton a power play.
The timing couldn’t be worse because the 3-on-3 situation is already chaotic without giving McDavid extra chances.
Ottawa worked hard to reach overtime. Then, their top leader gave Edmonton an easy opportunity.
According to the play-by-play, Tkachuk got called for holding with 47 seconds left in overtime, against McDavid.
That’s like a big warning sign saying “danger,” especially in Rogers Place where fans are ready to erupt.
Edmonton finished the game and won 5-4 in overtime. The Oilers improve to 29 wins, 24 losses, and 8 overtime losses, while the Senators drop to 29 wins, 22 losses, and 9 overtime losses.
Leon Draisaitl was the standout of the night with 2 goals and 3 assists, punishing every mistake made.
Brady Tkachuk faces criticism for his leadership of the Ottawa Senators.
Brady Tkachuk takes down Connor McDavid and the Oilers have a PP in OT 👀 pic.twitter.com/wJwupDDZTN
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 4, 2026
Fans of the Senators can accept losing, but they really dislike it when their captain makes a mistake that hurts the team.
Coaches would call this situation “avoidable” because it wasn’t a bad bounce or a broken stick – it was a decision made.
Tkachuk plays aggressively, which is part of why the team looks up to him. But during overtime, he shouldn’t have made a lazy move.
The tactical issue is straightforward. When you give Edmonton a 4-on-3 situation, McDavid can remain still and still find an opening.
Even if the penalty doesn’t directly lead to the winning goal, it shifts the game in favor of the Oilers and forces tired defenders to scramble.
BOUCH BOMB TO WIN AND COMEBACK FROM DOWN 4-2 😱🚨 pic.twitter.com/SBJMHCz3wB
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 4, 2026
The Senators really had the chance to win this game with their offense. Putting up four goals while playing away should get you more than just one point.
Now, this becomes a moment to learn, and lessons from the captain are usually more impactful.
The next game for Ottawa will show whether the team lets this go or if it shows in how they behave on the bench.
That’s because in March, a poor choice can have a longer effect than the penalty itself.
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