Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk has made it clear he is going to be putting the pressure on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Heading into a highly anticipated first round playoff matchup in the ‘Battle of Ontario’ between the rival Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators, Tkachuk already in playoff mode against their local rivals.

Tkachuk, one of the top power forwards in the National Hockey League, has no fear heading into the matchup against Toronto, telling reporters he “slept great” last night, now ready and excited to get the playoffs underway.

Slept great. It was one of the best sleeps I’ve had in a long time, so yeah, it was just, wake up today. Can’t believe today’s the day

When asked what it meant to be in the playoffs for the first time in the NHL, Tkachuk said it was “a long time coming”.

Tkachuk is playing his first playoff game in his NHL career in his seventh season, a wait he isn’t taking for granted and ready to pounce.

Tkachuk looks to match the bragging rights against older brother Matthew, who won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Florida Panthers last season.

Floridas cup winning team is represented between both sides, with Ottawa having Nick Cousins in the lineup, Toronto having three winners in Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Anthony Stolarz, & Steven Lorentz on the playoff roster.

Tkachuk, 25, had 29 goals, 26 assists, & 55 points in 72 games this season for the Ottawa Senators.

The Senators captain will square off against Toronto on the Sens’ first line, with Claude Giroux at right wing and Tim Stützle at center.

Ottawa has not made the NHL playoffs since 2017, where the Leafs first began a continued nine-year streak of making the postseason.

The Battle of Ontario is sure to be a series that not only will add to the intense rivalry these two teams have, but make the next seven games (if needed) much watch hockey.