Brady Tkachuk savoring Matthew's playoff run: 'Family is so important'

Although it's his brother starring in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk has occupied much of the family spotlight.

Brady has been open in his support for older brother Matthew throughout the Calgary Flames' playoff run, regularly showing up in the crowd at Scotiabank Saddledome with the rest of the Tkachuk clan.

Some have been critical of Brady for showing support for another team as the face of a different Canadian franchise. But he's adamant family comes first.

"It speaks to how close a family we are. We're all having fun with it. The most exciting thing is how pumped and much better (Matthew) is getting," he said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis.

He continued: "Of course, everybody can have their opinion, but at the end of the day, I'm a normal guy supporting his brother and all his goals. I'm here if he ever wants to talk about certain things. Family is so important to me. I'm cognizant that, of course, I play for Ottawa and love being in Ottawa. Very soon, we'll be in this situation where everyone is rallying around us."

Brady was in Calgary's infamous "C of Red" for the Flames' chaotic Game 1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, but he stopped short of wearing another club's logo.

"I’m not wearing Flames gear because I want to represent Ottawa," he said.

Matthew, 24, starred in the 9-6 victory, scoring his first career playoff hat trick. Brady, 22, is confident he'd get the same support if the roles were reversed.

"He's been playing great, and that makes it better, and the team is playing great. Even if he wasn't playing great, I'd be here to have his back no matter what is happening because I know that's what he'd do for me," Brady said.