Tkachuk was one of three American forwards to drop the gloves during the game's first nine seconds

One of the eight Florida Panthers players at the 4 Nations Face-off suffered an apparent injury on Saturday.

Matthew Tkachuk came off the ice shaking his head midway through the third period of Team USA’s matchup with Canada on Sunday night at Bell Centre in Montreal.

That would be the last time Tkachuk would play, instead sitting at the end of the USA bench while watching his teammates finish off a 3-1 victory and clinch their spot in the 4 Nations final.

He came out during the following TV timeout to test whatever was ailing him, but again returned to the bench shaking his head while offering words of encouragement to his teammates.

Whatever the issue was, Tkachuk said after the game that he had “no concern at all” about the apparent injury.

Earlier in the night, it was Tkachuk that set the tone right off the opening faceoff, dropping the gloves with Canadian forward Brandon Hagel exactly two seconds into the game.

One second of game time later, Matthew’s brother Brady Tkachuk and Panthers center Sam Bennett traded blows, and six seconds after that it was J.T. Miller and Colton Parayko going at it.

Talk about an insane start to what already promised to be a highly emotional and entertaining game.

Tkachuk finished with just 11:10 of ice time and three shots on goal, playing five shifts during the final frame.

Now the focus moving forward will be on Tkachuk’s health status for the 4 Nations Final on Thursday at TD Garden in Boston.

Team USA will face Sweden on Monday afternoon, a game that Tkachuk doesn’t necessarily have to suit up for, as the Americans are locked into Thursday’s final. 

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