Tkachuk denies trying to steal puck from Primeau's 1st NHL win

Brady Tkachuk claims he wasn't up to any mischief when he collected the puck after Wednesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens - which just so happened to be the first NHL victory for his old pal Cayden Primeau.

The Ottawa Senators pest was spotted grabbing the puck before skating off the ice following his club's overtime loss. However, during his venture, he was met by Carey Price, who was looking to give the biscuit to his goaltending partner.

Price was then asked whether he thought Tkachuk was stealing the puck.

"I think so," Price said, per The Athletic's Arpon Basu. "I was watching to see what happened to the puck and just saw him scoop it up."

Tkachuk was asked about it Thursday, and he pleaded innocence.

"Honestly, I didn't even realize it was his first win puck," he told The Athletic's Chris Stevenson. "I know (Primeau). I played with him at the U18 Worlds and we won a gold medal together. I know him pretty well. Honestly, I didn't even think of it. When I saw him, I was like 'Oh, OK.' I didn't even realize. I was just going to give the puck to a kid in the stands."

Primeau, 20, was a seventh-round draft pick of the Canadiens in 2017. Thursday's win came in the second NHL start of his career.