Florida Panthers
Paul Maurice: Matthew Tkachuk is ‘Playing for Us This Year’
Speaking on the Joe Rose Show on Monday morning, Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice said that, while he did not have a timeline on Matthew Tkachuk, he said “he’s playing for us this year.’’
On Saturday night, Renaud Lavoie of Canada’s TVA said there was concern the Tkachuk’s season could be over due to the suspected groin injury Tkachuk sustained during the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off playing for Team USA.
“We’re waiting for important medical results,” Lavoie said during the Montreal-Ottawa game.
“We’re hearing his year might be over, we don’t want it to be, but there’s some concern.”
Tkachuk played limited minutes for Team USA after getting hurt in the second game of the tournament against Canada.
After missing a game, Tkachuk returned for the finale against Canada, but only played 6:47 — and none in the third period.
Maurice said that Tkachuk is still going through medical tests and that the Panthers could have a better understanding of the injury later today.
Tkachuk missed Saturday’s game against the Seattle Kraken and may not be back in the lineup for some time.
“I don’t have a timeline, he is going to get looked at today,” Maurice said. “We’re hoping it’s not too serious; there’s a possibility it’s not too serious. But there is a possibility it is a bit longer term. Even with that, he’s playing for us this year. It’s not that kind of thing.”
Rose asked Maurice if Tkachuk’s injury soured him any on the 4 Nations tournament which was, otherwise, a rousing success.
“It’s a heavy, full-contact, hard sport,” Maurice said. “So, when you play that, guys get hurt. You don’t want it to be your guys — you don’t want it to be any guys — but injuries are a part of our game.”
ON DECK: GAME No. 59
FLORIDA PANTHERS at NASHVILLE PREDATORS
- When: Tuesday, 8 p.m.
- Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville
- Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FTL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (Naples/FTM)
- 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 Nashville: Feb. 25. At Florida: Panthers 6, Predators 2 (Nov. 7).
- Last Season: Split 1-1
- All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 23-15-6, 3 ties
- Up Next for the Panthers: Thursday vs. Edmonton Oilers, 7 p.m.
