Homecoming Week for Matthew Tkachuk Is Off to a Great Start

On Thursday night, Matthew Tkachuk kicked off what will be a Homecoming Week of sorts with two big goals — including the game-winner with 11.8 seconds left — in his hometown of St. Louis.

Today, he and the Panthers will fly south from Missouri where much of his family will be waiting for him in Fort Lauderdale and younger brother Brady and the Ottawa Senators are in town.

It will be the final game before the start of the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off — of which the Tkachuk brothers will not only be teammates, but likely line up together for the first time since the 2023 All-Star Game in Sunrise of which Matthew was named MVP.

So, not counting ‘Team Atlantic,’ playing for Team USA will be the first real time the two brothers will be teammates.

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“It’s really hard not to look forward to that right now, but I am trying to stay in the moment for these last few games,’’ Tkachuk said of playing with Brady starting next week. “It’s right around the corner and we are so excited. The family, I can’t put into words how excited everyone is. They’ll all be there in both Montreal and Boston.

“I’m actually playing Brady Saturday in Florida so he’ll come over for the day, and I am sure we’ll talk all about it.’’

Being a Tkachuk has never been this fun, right?

Ok. Everyone knows better than that.

But it’s still pretty good.

“I didn’t know how much time was left, but I knew we were running low on time,” said Tkachuk, who got a piece of Sam Reinhart’s rebound follow-up shot and knocked it past Joel Hofer to give Florida the 3-2 win against the Blues late in Thursday’s game.

Reinhart was initially awarded the goal — he pounded the first shot so hard, the rebound came off Hofer’s pads and right back onto his stick for the second shot — but it was changed a little while after the game.

That gave Tkachuk two goals in the win as he extended his goal and point streak to five consecutive games.

“He can pick the times,’’ Paul Maurice said. “He’s on a roll. Keep that going, and it’ll be good for us.’’

Said Reinhart: “He’s the driver, he’s the heart when he is going like that. It seems like, when the moment gets bigger, he rises to the occasion. That’s what you want out of your leaders.’’

Tkachuk certainly loves playing hockey anywhere, but especially in his hometown of St. Louis.

Although he and Brady were born in Arizona, they were raised in St. Louis where his dad Keith usually brought the kids along to the arena when he was playing for the Blues.

The two used what is now known as Enterprise Center as their personal playground.

Matthew Tkachuk has continued that as an adult.

Whenever he plays the Blues, you would be wise to bet whatever his over is.

After Thursday, Tkachuk now has nine goals and 27 points in 20 career games against the Blues.

That ain’t bad.

Against Brady and the Senators, Matthew Tkachuk has seven goals and 27 points in 27 games.

Again, not too shabby.

ON DECK: GAME No. 57

OTTAWA SENATORS at FLORIDA PANTHERS 

• When: Saturday, 7 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
• Last Season: Panthers won 4-0
• This Season (Senators Lead 1-0) — At Ottawa: Senators 3, Panthers 1 (Oct 10); Ap. 5. At Florida: Saturday.
• All-time Regular Season Series: Ottawa leads 58-48-5, 3 ties
• Up Next for the Panthers: Feb. 22 vs. Seattle Kraken, 6 p.m.