The Florida Panthers are just one win away from winning the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row, and star forward Matthew Tkachuk is a huge reason for it. The 27-year-old winger is having an excellent post-season for the Panthers, as he has seven goals, 22 points, and a plus-6 rating in 22 games. He has also stepped up big time in the Panthers' Stanley Cup Final series against the Edmonton Oilers, as he has two goals and six points in five games thus far.
While speaking to reporters ahead of Game 6 against the Oilers, Tkachuk revealed at that he was not even sure he would be able to play this post-season until the start of it due to his injury trouble.
"I didn't know if I was going to come back at the start," Tkachuk said. "I kind of found out the day before it that I was going to have a chance to play, day of, honestly. The first round was definitely the worst I felt, by far... I've had some ups and downs throughout the playoffs, and now I'm feeling the best I felt."
Tkachuk then admitted that he thought that he had a 50/50 chance of being able to play this post-season.
"I thought that there was maybe a 50% chance I wouldn't be playing as close to about a week or five days before the playoffs, so I'm very lucky and fortunate that I've got great trainers and doctors that somehow got me healthy enough to play."
Before the playoffs started, Tkachuk played his final regular-season game on Feb. 8 against the Ottawa Senators. Thus, it was a long road for Tkachuk to get healthy against, and the Panthers are benefiting from it immensely. Had he not been given the green light to return, things could have been far different for the Panthers this post-season.
LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA
Roberto Luongo teases possible return to bang pregame drum ahead of Stanley Cup Final Game 6
Several Florida Panthers named to initial nations' rosters for 2026 Winter Olympics
Brad Marchand, not Connor McDavid, stealing the show during Stanley Cup Final
Matthew Tkachuk Hilariously Reacts To Brad Marchand's Big Goal
Photo Credit: © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images