USA’s Matthew Tkachuk: ‘I’m ready to go’ for 4 Nations final

Matthew Tkachuk is ready to go.

Speaking with Michael Russo of The Athletic on Wednesday, the Florida Panthers left winger confirmed that he will return to Team USA‘s lineup for Thursday’s championship final versus Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

“I’m ready to go. It’s going to be an incredible game and I don’t want to miss it,” Tkachuk told Russo.

Tkachuk’s return follows his absence from Monday’s round-robin closer versus Sweden due to a lower-body injury. In all, Tkachuk has made a pair of appearances at the 4 Nations Face-Off in which he has scored twice and added an assist for three points coupled with five penalty minutes.

Tkachuk also shared his confidence that his brother and fellow American forward Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators, who exited early versus Sweden due to a lower-body ailment, will suit up versus Canada despite missing practice earlier Wednesday.

“[He is] saving everything he has for tomorrow night and I’m very confident he’ll be at his absolute best,” Tkachuk told Russo.

Through 52 appearances with the Panthers this season, Tkachuk has scored north of a point per game in registering 22 goals and 35 assists for 57 points, five back of Canada forward Sam Reinhart for the team lead.

Now in his third season with the Panthers, Tkachuk’s time in South Florida has been highlighted by back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final, including the Panthers’ first-ever championship coming last spring that saw the power forward put up six goals and 16 assists for 22 points through 24 postseason appearances en route to the title.

Originally chosen sixth overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2016 NHL Draft, the 27-year-old native of Scottsdale, Ariz., has seen 642 career contests between the Flames and Panthers in which he has amassed 240 goals and 396 assists for 636 points in addition to 61 points in 71 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.