Matthew Tkachuk is back just in time for the Florida Panthers’ playoff push. The star forward will suit up for Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, head coach Paul Maurice confirmed Thursday.
It’s huge news for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who’ve been without Tkachuk for the past two months.
The 27-year-old hasn’t played since getting hurt at the 4 Nations Face-Off, missing Florida’s final 25 regular-season games with a groin injury.
Maurice says Tkachuk will skip Friday’s practice but hit the ice Monday – a pretty clear sign that’s when Game 1 will kick off the latest chapter in the Battle of Florida.
The Panthers definitely missed their star player down the stretch. They went just 13-11-1 without him, barely staying above water with a +2 goal difference. That slide cost them the Atlantic Division lead and home-ice advantage against Tampa.
But Tkachuk wasn’t the only one missing. New addition Brad Marchand and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov both had extended absences. Top defender Aaron Ekblad is still serving a 20-game suspension for PED use and won’t be back until Game 3.
Before getting hurt, Tkachuk was having another stellar season. He put up 57 points in 52 games, leading the team in points per game (1.10) and shot attempts (6.08). Only Sam Reinhart shot more accurately than Tkachuk’s impressive 14.1% success rate.
He’s been way more than just a scorer, too. The numbers show he’s one of Florida’s best two-way players, controlling nearly 60% of the play when he’s on the ice.
Playoff hockey is where Tkachuk really shines. He’s racked up 46 points in 44 postseason games with Florida, making him one of the NHL’s top playoff performers over the past two years.
The Panthers will likely slot him back on the second line with Sam Bennett and former rival-turned-teammate Brad Marchand as they chase another Cup. But first, they’ll need to get past a tough Lightning team that’s knocked them out before.
This marks the fourth time in five years these Florida rivals have met in the playoffs. Game on.
