FHN Today/NHL Links
FHN Today: Tkachuk Back Tonight? Another NHL Coach Gone
FORT LAUDERDALE — For the second straight practice, the Florida Panthers had Matthew Tkachuk on the ice and working on their second line and top power-play unit.
It looks like Tkachuk will play tonight when the Panthers open up against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
Only coach Paul Maurice said a decision would happen later this afternoon.
With an 8:30 kick, Florida’s morning skate is not until noon.
So, we’ll see.
“If he gets through that morning skate, everyone gives a thumbs up, then he’ll go,” Maurice said about the playing status of Tkachuk.
If not?
“We’re close enough now that you put yourself in the position where you would consider two more days if you thought you were right there,” Maurice said.
“The doctors and Matthew will tell us where he’s at, and we will go from there.”
FHN / FLORIDA PANTHERS
- The Panthers and Lightning rivalry is one to savor. We dig deep into its recent history.
- Brad Marchand should bring some serious juice to the Panthers when these playoffs finally get going. He has been pretty, pretty good in the postseason over the years.
- Jake Guentzel may be key for the Lightning in beating the Panthers.
- Seth Jones returns to the playoffs for the first time since he was playing for John Tortorella and the Blue Jackets in a Covid bubble. Feels like a long time ago to a lot of us, Jones included. FHN+
- Subscribe to the FHN YouTube channel to hear from the Florida Panthers throughout the postseason. On Monday, we got Maurice, Anton Lundell, and Nico Sturm. More today. Maybe even Matthew Tkachuk.
NHL NEWS / NHL LINKS
- The Colorado Avalanche activated Gabriel Landeskog off IR.
- Dallas fights back, ties series with Avs at 1.
- The Kings blow a lead but take Game 1 over Oilers.
- Vancouver GM Jim Rutherford says Quinn Hughes wants to play with his brothers — who happen to play for the New Jersey Devils. No big surprise, that.
- The Canucks are not exercising the club option on coach Rick Tocchet so, if he doesn’t want to go back, he is now a free agent.
- The Philadelphia Flyers are looking for a new coach, just so you know.
- So, too, are the Kraken who canned Dan Bylsma after one season.
- Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas and Erik Karlsson had a long, long exit meeting.
- Trying to find the perfect defensive partner for Noah Dobson of the New York Islanders.
- The Ottawa Senators have a lot to improve on after that Game 1 loss.
- Alex Ovechkin gets his first playoff OT goal.
- The Montreal Canadiens certainly put up a fight.
2025 NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND: GAME 1
FLORIDA PANTHERS at TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
- When: Tuesday, 8:30 p.m.
- Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa
- Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FtL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (SWFla)
- National TV: ESPN
- Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
- Radio: WQAM 560-AM; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
- Series Schedule — Game 1 at Tampa: Tuesday, 8:30; Game 2 at Tampa: Thursday, 6:30; Game 3 at Florida: Saturday, 1; Game 4 at Florida: Monday, April 28 (TBA); Game 5* at Tampa: Wednesday, April 30 (TBA); Game 6* at Florida: Friday, May 2 (TBA); Game 7* at Tampa: Sunday, May 4 (TBA).
- Season Series (Tied 2-2)
- All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 79-53-19, 10 ties
- All-Time Postgame Series: Tampa Bay Leads 2-1 (won 2021 first-round, 2022 ECS); Florida d. Lightning 4-1 in 2024 first-round.
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