OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators will get a major boost when captain Brady Tkachuk returns on Friday.

Tkachuk is slated to return to Ottawa's lineup against the St. Louis Blues, ending a six-week recovery from a thumb injury that required surgery. He was hurt on Oct. 13 against the Nashville Predators, in just the Senators third game of the season, and underwent surgery four days later.

“It was a long six weeks,” Tkachuk said. “It was tough stretches, or some highs or some lows and I'm just so grateful to have the opportunity to be playing again.”

Ottawa (12-7-4) managed an impressive 11-5-4 record without Tkachuk. He said that being forced to watch from afar only deepened his appreciation for his teammates and his hunger to rejoin them.

Tkachuk said the early days after the surgery were c

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