Senators F Brady Tkachuk being evaluated after early exit

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk is undergoing further testing after leaving Monday's 4-1 loss to Nashville with an apparent upper-body injury.

Tkachuk was cross-checked early in the first period and appeared to slam his right arm into the boards after he was hit. He was holding his right forearm as he got back to his feet, yet remained in the game until being pulled midway through the third period with the Predators leading 2-0.

"Obviously he didn't finish the game down the stretch, he tried to," coach Travis Green said Monday. "I don't really have an update. He's being evaluated right now."

Tkachuk, 26, has been an important player in the Senators' re-emergence. The forward had a team-high 29 goals last season while leading Ottawa to its first playoff appearance since the 2016-17 season. He tallied a team-high 37 goals and 74 points in 2023-24 and posted a career-high 83 points in 2022-23.

Tkachuk missed 10 regular-season games a season ago, sustaining a lower-body injury while competing for the United States in the 4 Nations Cup. He has no goals but a team-high three assists through the Senators' first three games this season, over which they've posted a 1-2-0 record.

Ottawa is next in action Wednesday at Buffalo (0-3-0).

--Field Level Media