Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk activated from IR; game-time decision for Game 1 against Lightning

Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk has been activated from the injured reserve and is considered a game-time decision to play Tuesday’s series opener against the Atlantic Division rival Tampa Bay Lightning, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice confirmed per team reporter Katie Engleson.

Sidelined since sustaining a groin injury while competing with Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, Tkachuk missed the remaining 25 games of the Panthers’ regular-season schedule, with his last appearance coming February 8 against the Ottawa Senators. In all, Tkachuk saw 52 showings with the Panthers this season in which he collected 22 goals and 35 assists to finish third in team scoring with 57 points.

Now through three seasons with Florida following a blockbuster deal in the 2022 offseason that saw the Panthers part with former star forward Jonathan Huberdeau, Tkachuk’s tenure in South Florida has been highlighted by back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final including the franchise’s first-ever championship coming last spring after a seven-game series victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

In all, through 211 career contests with the Panthers, Tkachuk has tallied 88 goals and 166 assists for 254 points, while through 44 postseason appearances he has notched 17 goals and 29 assists for 46 points. Originally chosen sixth overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2016 NHL Draft, the 27-year-old native of Scottsdale, Ariz., has totaled 240 goals and 396 assists for 636 points in 642 career contests. Tkachuk has also amassed 61 points counting 24 goals and 37 assists in 71 playoff outings.

For the Panthers, the club closed out the 2024-25 campaign with a 47-31-4 record and 98 points to set up an opening-round series against the state rival Lightning. It marks the fourth time the two squads have met in the postseason. Last spring, the Panthers eliminated the Lightning in the first round, taking the series in five games.