Senators’ Brady Tkachuk is out 6-8 weeks after right thumb surgery

OTTAWA — Senators captain Brady Tkachuk is expected to be out 6-8 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair an injury to his right thumb, the team announced Thursday.

Tkachuk was injured when he was cross-checked into the boards by the Predators’ Roman Josi five minutes into Monday night’s game.

The 26-year-old American winger stayed in before leaving midway through the third period.

Having the operation now means Tkachuk can return in late November or early December and long before the Milan Olympics in February. He and brother Matthew of the Panthers, who’s also injured and expected to be out until December, have already been named to the US roster.