Matthew Tkachuk Is Back with Florida Panthers Tonight

FORT LAUDERDALE — The long wait is over: Matthew Tkachuk will make his return to the Florida Panthers tonight against the San Jose Sharks.

Tkachuk has not played for the Panthers this season after having surgery to repair a torn adductor as well as a sports hernia back on Aug. 22.

He said Monday morning that he wanted to wait until he was 100 percent before returning.

“I’m feeling great,” Tkachuk said following a quick morning skate. “Just so excited to be back. It has been a little over five months since the surgery, so I have just been champing at the bit to come back. Really happy the day is finally here.”

Initially injured last February at the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, Tkachuk missed the final 25 games of the regular season only to return for Game 1 of the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tkachuk had two goals and an assist in that win against the Lightning — and ended up tying for the team lead with 23 points in 23 postseason games.

He played through pain in the playoffs with the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup for a second time.

“My patience has been tested a lot, but I guess it’s kind of what I signed up for by making the decision late February, early March by riding it out,’’ Tkachuk said in Sunrise two weeks ago.

“Ultimately knowing — I’m sure I lied, fibbed to you guys a few times in the spring, saying I probably won’t need surgery — but I knew in the back of my mind that it was ultimately going to happen.”

On Monday, Tkachuk skated on a line for the first time — and with his dad Keith at the morning skate.

Tkachuk is with Mackie Samoskevich and Evan Rodrigues.

A.J. Greer remains on the second line with Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe.

ON DECK: GAME No. 48

SAN JOSE SHARKS at FLORIDA PANTHERS 

• When: Monday, 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: WQAM 560; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
• Last Season: Florida won 2-0 
  
• This Season (Sharks Lead 1-0) — At Florida: Monday. At San Jose: Sharks 3, Panthers 1 (Nov. 8)
• All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 25-14-1, 7 ties
• Up Next for the Panthers: Thursday at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m.