George Richards, FHN Publisher
SUNRISE — In his pregame chat with the media Saturday afternoon, Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice was jokingly asked if Matthew Tkachuk would be in the lineup.
“We’re going to see if we can squeeze him in,” Maurice said, playing along.
Yeah, the Panthers are not going anywhere without Tkachuk these days — literally and figuratively.
As Florida continues driving down the road toward a playoff spot, Tkachuk has been behind the wheel.
It has been impressive to those not only watching from afar but to those up close as well.
“Chucky is just fantastic,” said Aaron Ekblad, who drove Tkachuk to the airport on Sunday perhaps to guarantee he was on the plane.
“From what he brings to the room and on to the ice, he is, simply one of the most valuable players I have ever seen.”
“He brings that puck to the net every single game. Anything that touches him, he puts it in. He brings that aggressive power forward element that we need and just has a knack for the net. He goes there and the puck goes in. It is incredible. It is really hard to explain.’’
While Maurice may want to burn the tape of Thursday’s wild-and-wacky 9-5 win over the Canadiens, they are not setting the scoresheet aflame as Tkachuk had himself yet another big night.
Tkachuk had a goal and three assists against Montreal. Add a beautiful highlight goal against New Jersey on Saturday and Tkachuk has four goals and 13 points in his past six games.
He also has 11 points in a four-game scoring streak.
Simply put, Tkachuk is proving why the Panthers and general manager Bill Zito sent so much to Calgary in trying to secure they won the summer sweepstakes.
Did the Panthers pay a big price in giving up Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt and a first-round draft pick?
Most definitely.
And, if folks did not see why he did before, well, this is why.
”He has been on a tear,’’ Maurice said. “The line has been strong, he has been really good. It’s not all about points but it is hard to ignore when you get 10 in three nights. He has been good in both ends of the rink and a driver for us, for sure.’’
Even when Tkachuk does not land on the scoresheet, he is noticeable. Tkachuk is always doing something on the ice.
”That is the growth of the game in him,’’ Maurice said. “He is a point-producer and there are really good point-producers who do not affect the game in any other way. They get their points and that’s it.
“But Tkachuk is physical, he is a leader on the bench and a leader on the ice. We use him to kill penalties in addition to playing on the power play. He has a real strong impact on the game even away from scoring.”
Tkachuk is not the only Florida player on a major heater these days with the expectation he or one of his teammates will be honored by the NHL as a top star of the week when that is released on Monday.
Sasha Barkov, who tied Huberdeau for the all-time franchise scoring lead with two points on Saturday, is riding a six-game scoring streak with multiple points in four of them.
In his past six games, Barkov has four goals and 13 points.
Sam Reinhart had two goals on Saturday and now has five in his past four games.
While Tkachuk may be driving the Panthers’ bus these days, he is getting plenty of help.
“I am surrounded by so much talent here that it is very easy for me to go out there and just play my game,” Tkachuk said on Saturday night.
“It is amazing, the talent on this team that I am surrounded by. It makes it too easy for me.’’