The Ottawa Senators will have to keep their head above water without their captain.
Brady Tkachuk is set to miss at least four weeks after suffering a hand injury, head coach Travis Green told reporters after practice on Tuesday. Green added that surgery has not been ruled out.
Tkachuk suffered the injury in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators.
He was cross-checked by Predators defenceman Roman Josi early in the first period and went awkwardly into the boards. He was holding his right forearm as he got to his feet, and though he continued to play, he looked uncomfortable.
Though he was never ruled out officially, he didn't play most of the third period and was unable to finish out the game.
Tkachuk, 26, has been a key player for the Senators in recent years. Through three games this season, he has three assists and 10 hits.
Last season, the captain had 29 goals and 26 assists through 72 games while laying 228 hits and firing 296 shots on goal.
Over his eight-year career, all of which has been spent in Canada's capital, Tkachuk has 191 goals and 216 assists in 515 games.
