Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk Out With Undisclosed Injury

Matthew Tkachuk will not play for the Florida Panthers in their upcoming game against the Seattle Kraken due to a lower-body injury sustained during the 4 Nations Face-Off. Coach Paul Maurice confirmed Tkachuk's status after he managed only 6:47 of ice time in the championship game against Canada, where he was clearly affected by the injury. Tkachuk had previously missed a game against Sweden and is currently being evaluated by the Panthers' medical staff. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov expressed concern about the impact of losing Tkachuk, emphasizing his unique contribution to the team. Meanwhile, Tkachuk's brother, Brady, indicated that the injury may be serious, noting his disappointment over the situation. The Panthers will assess Tkachuk's condition over the next few days to determine the extent of his absence.