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Matthew Tkachuk Seems OK After Leaving Team USA Win

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1 month ago

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Matthew Tkachuk, pictured here with Vincent Trocheck at Team USA practice on Tuesday, said he is not worried about a potential injury after he sat out the final 12-plus minutes of Saturday’s 3-1 win over Canada. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Take a deep breath Florida Panthers fans: Matthew Tkachuk says he is doing OK.

Tkachuk only played three shifts in the third period of Team USA’s rousing 3-1 win over Canada in the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off on Saturday night.

He took a practice lap during a timeout in the third, came back to the bench, and told assistant coach John Tortorella he was done for the night.

Yet what a night it was.

Tkachuk got the festivities going by dropping the gloves and fighting Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel — “we have a pretty good history throughout the season,’’ Hagel said — on the opening faceoff.

That led to three fights in the first 9 seconds of the game, including one between his brother Brady and friend/teammate Sam Bennett, and sort of set the tone that this USA team was not afraid of Team Canada much less the moment.

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“It was pretty electric,’’ Bennett said. “I had a feeling after Matthew went that Brady came over to me. I just feel like it was waiting to happen. That’s them. I have played with Matthew for a long time now and he likes to get the fans into it. There’s no bigger stage that. I knew something like that was going to happy. It’s funny, for sure.’’

Tkachuk said he, Brady, and J.T. Miller were all on a group chat on Saturday which led to the three all fighting early.

They got their statement out of the way, and then it was on to hockey.

“We had to send a message that we’re here in Montreal on a Saturday night,’’ Tkachuk said. “We want it to be our time. That was the message right from the get-go. … They have had a lot of success over the last bunch of years. For us to play them here in Canada; I don’t understand the outside narrative that these aren’t big games. These are as big as they get.

“This is what you dream about. To have the chance to knock off Canada in Canada? It was incredible.’’

By the end of the night, the concern for Panthers fans was of Tkachuk’s health.

Team USA coach Mike Sullivan said the injury was considered ‘lower body,’ and by the way Tkachuk was skating around, it may be a groin pull or hamstring.

Regardless, Tkachuk did not seem overly concerned and said he was just ready for a festive — and quick — flight to Boston for the final few days of the tournament.

“I feel good, much better after a win,” Tkachuk told reporters following the game. “I feel good. … Other than Game 7 last year, this has been the highlight of my hockey career so far. So, I’m just going to enjoy it with the guys. We have such a fun group in there, and it’s going to be a fun plane ride tonight. Lots of laughs. We’re having a lot of fun.”

By beating Canada on Saturday, Team USA will play for the title on Thursday in Boston regardless of what it does Monday against Sweden.

With the game not holding any ramifications for the Americans, Tkachuk could be held out for precautionary reasons and have off until Thursday’s title bout against either Sweden, Finland, or, of course, Canada.

Sullivan would not say which way he is leaning on a Monday decision, but with New York’s Chris Kreider being scratched the first two games, expect him to get into the lineup somehow on Monday.

Canada will need to beat Finland to set up a most anticipated rematch.

“We win,’’ Bennett said, “and we get them again. Simple as that. That’s all we can focus on.’’

4 NATIONS FACE-OFF SCHEDULE/RESULTS

At Montreal

At Boston Garden

  • Monday: Canada vs. Finland, 1 p.m. (TNT/truTV, Max); Sweden vs. United States, 8 p.m. (TNT/truTV, Max)
  • Thursday: Championship game, 8 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN+)

Standings

  • 1. United States 6 points
  • 2. Canada 2
  • 2. Finland 2
  • 2. Sweden 2

PANTHERS ON DECK: GAME No. 58
SEATTLE KRAKEN at FLORIDA

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