Brady Tkachuk, the NHL's first victim of five consecutive high-sticking incidents, has become the talk of the league. This unprecedented streak began on December 6th in Ottawa, when St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas accidentally struck Tkachuk's eye area during a stick lift. Despite the unfortunate nature of the event, the two players maintain a close friendship, and Thomas lived with the Tkachuk family during his rookie season. Tkachuk's remarkable resilience is evident as he continues to battle through these high-stick encounters, even joking about the possibility of wearing a cage for protection. The high sticks have resulted in five power plays for the Senators, who have capitalized on these opportunities, scoring nine power-play goals in their last 22 chances. This has significantly improved their power-play percentage to 25.5%, ranking them sixth in the league. While Tkachuk's luck may seem uncanny, he remains focused on helping his team win, stating, 'Do whatever it takes to help the boys.' This remarkable streak has sparked discussions about the frequency of high-stick incidents and the potential impact on player safety and team performance.
