The Toronto Maple Leafs' fans wasted no time letting Brady Tkachuk know exactly how they felt about him in Game 1 of the Battle of Ontario.
During a 6-2 win for the Leafs on Sunday, the crowd at Scotiabank Arena was loud with their chants of “Brady Sucks,” directed at the Ottawa Senators' captain.
Despite the hostile reception, the 25-year-old remained unfazed in his post-game comments, brushing off the chants and prioritizing his focus on his team’s performance and the expectations for Game 2.
“I guess I expected it. Couldn’t care less, I don’t really give a s***, to be honest,” Tkachuk said after the loss, making it clear that he wasn’t bothered by the remarks.
For Tkachuk’s Senators linemates, however, the chants were seen in a different light.
Veteran forward Claude Giroux, who has played in plenty of high-pressure Battle of Pennsylvania rivalry games throughout his career, believes the chats are a sign of respect, he said pre-game on Tuesday. Giroux, a long-time Philadelphia Flyer, recalled similar experiences from his games against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2010s.
“In my eyes, that’s a compliment for Brady. You don’t do that if he actually sucks,” Giroux told reporters. “So, it’s a compliment. I’ve gotten booed in Pittsburgh before, and I’ll be honest, it was the best games to play.”
Giroux’s perspective aligned with the third member of Ottawa’s top line, Tim Stutzle, who sees the chants as a reflection of Tkachuk’s notable presence on the ice.
"He's a good player. That's why they do it; they know he's a good player. Everybody knows it. He's a really confident guy and knows what he has to do out there. So, I think it fires him up,” Stutzle explained.
As the Senators head into Game 2 needing to split the series on the road, the question remains whether the hostile atmosphere and chants will continue towards Tkachuk’s way.
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