Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk out day-to-day after 4 Nations Face-Off injury

Florida Panthers left winger Matthew Tkachuk is considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and will not be in lineup Saturday versus the Seattle Kraken, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice confirmed Friday per Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald.

The Panthers are expected to have a greater understanding of the extent of Tkachuk’s injury upon his return to the team from the 4 Nations Face-Off. With the NHL on pause since February 10, Tkachuk was a part of the American rendition at the 4 Nations Face-Off, which wrapped Thursday with a 3-2 overtime loss in the championship final versus Canada.

In all, through three appearances at the 4 Nations Face-Off, Tkachuk posted two goals and one assist for three points alongside five penalty minutes. Meanwhile, with the Panthers this season, the 27-year-old native of Scottsdale, Ariz., sits second in team scoring with 57 points counting 22 goals and 35 assists coming in 52 games.

Now in his third season with Florida, Tkachuk’s past two campaigns with the Panthers have been underscored by back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final, including the franchise’s first-ever title coming last spring that witnessed the power forward post 22 points in 24 postseason appearances en route to the championship.

Originally chosen sixth overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2016 NHL Draft, Tkachuk has totaled 642 career contests between the Flames and Panthers in which he has amassed 240 goals and 396 assists for 636 points. In 2022-23, his first season with the Panthers, Tkachuk reached a career-high 109 points. Tkachuk has also added 61 points counting 24 goals and 37 assists through 71 outings in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Entering Saturday’s contest against the Kraken, the Panthers sit atop the Atlantic Division with a 34-20-3 record, three points ahead of the second-placed Toronto Maple Leafs.