Florida Panthers Update Matthew Tkachuk Injury Status

FORT LAUDERDALE — Matthew Tkachuk is not expected to play for the Florida Panthers on Saturday against visiting Seattle due to a lower-body injury, coach Paul Maurice confirmed Friday.

Tkachuk was hurt playing for Team USA at the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

He first sustained the injury Saturday against Canada; after missing Monday’s game against Sweden, Tkachuk was in the starting lineup for Team USA but played 6:47.

Tkachuk did not play in the third period or in overtime.

Maurice said Tkachuk is considered day-to-day.

With the Panthers players and staff flying back from Boston on Friday, Maurice said that Tkachuk’s injury would need to be evaluated by team doctors before any further decision would be made.

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“I don’t know if we’ve got a man or more out tomorrow, but my expectation is we’re going to give him some rest no matter what,’’ Maurice said, before saying he did not expect Tkachuk to play.

“We’ll get a handle on it over the next few days.’’ 

The Panthers did have more players at practice Friday than they did the day before, with captain Sasha Barkov and defenseman Gus Forsling joining the action.

Barkov, who played for Finland at the 4 Nations, said no one wants to see the Panthers lose Tkachuk for an extended period of time.

“There is no one else in the world like Matthew,’’ Barkov said. “So, you cannot really replace that type of player and person. Hopefully, it’s nothing too serious. I don’t know yet; we don’t know. He’s a huge part of what we do here. … He’s one of a kind. That’s for sure.’’

ON DECK: GAME No. 58

SEATTLE KRAKEN at FLORIDA PANTHERS

• When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
• Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
• Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FtL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (SWFla)
• Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
• Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
• Season Series (Panthers Lead 1-0) — At Seattle: Panthers 2, Kraken 1 SO (Dec. 11). At Florida: Feb. 22.
• Last Season: Tied 1-1
• All-Time Regular Season Series: Seattle leads 4-3-0
• Up Next for the Panthers: Tuesday at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.