Florida Panthers Matt Tkachuk out for Game 5 of Stanley Cup final

If the Florida Panthers are going to live to see another day, they’ll be doing it without their best player.

Matt Tkachuk will not participate in Game 5, with Anton Lundell taking his spot in the lineup on the top line.

Grigori Denisenko will draw into the lineup for his first game of the playoffs, and his first NHL game since Feb. 24. Denisenko had three points in 18 games with the Panthers this year, as well as 36 points in 56 regular season games with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers.

Tkachuk was hit hard by Keegan Kolesaar in Game 3, with Tkachuk playing limited minutes in Game 4. He’s dealing with an upper-body injury and hasn’t skated since the end of Saturday’s game.

While Tkachuk is known for his physical play, he’s often the one dealing the devastating blows rather than taking them. In the game after this hit, Tkachuk was held to zero points for only the fifth time this postseason.

Tkachuk has been Florida’s best player this year, scoring 40 goals and a career-high 109 points. He’s also been one of the most valuable playoff performers with 24 points in 20 games, including multiple game-winning goals.