Florida Panthers
How Injury to Matthew Tkachuk Impacts Florida Panthers Tonight
FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers will be without star forward Matthew Tkachuk tonight due to the lower-body injury he sustained at the 4 Nations Face-Off playing for Team USA.
This news was not unexpected; coach Paul Maurice said Friday that it was likely Tkachuk would not play tonight.
The Panthers play host to the Seattle Kraken at 6 p.m.
Tkachuk was hurt last Saturday night in a game against Canada.
He missed much of the third period in Team USA’s 3-1 win, did not play Monday against Sweden, and was limited to 6:47 Thursday in the rematch against Canada.
Tkachuk appears to have a groin injury.
Maurice said Saturday that there is no timeline for his return.
The Panthers’ medical staff is going to look at him in the coming days.
It does sound like Tkachuk could miss more than tonight’s game, however.
“He is going to get looked at Sunday and Monday,’’ Maurice said. “We’re going to have our people get their hands on him, and then we’ll have a real clear plan after that.’’
The Panthers will have the other seven players who took part in the 4 Nations tournament back in action tonight.
Although Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart did not participate in the optional skate Saturday, both will be in the lineup against Brandon Montour and the Kraken.
Evan Rodrigues, who also took his option Saturday morning, will replace Tkachuk on the right side of the second line with Bennett and Mackie Samoskevich.
The Panthers will start Sergei Bobrovsky tonight.
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.
