'We expect him in the lineup': Matthew Tkachuk set to return after missing Panthers past 5 games
Florida went 3-1-1 in the 5 games they played without both Matthew Tkachuk and Sasha Barkov
The Florida Panthers are getting a welcomed boost to their recently depleted lineup.
All signs point to Panthers star forward Matthew Tkachuk being on the ice when Florida hosts the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night.
Tkachuk has missed each of Florida’s past five games while battling an illness.
He's been practicing with the team since late last week and is surely chomping at the bit to get back out there and play some meaningful hockey.
“I’m gonna assume, based off what I saw in practice, that he plays tomorrow,” Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said following Monday's practice.
The only hurdles left for Tkachuk to clear would be getting the okay from the medical staff after skating on Monday and then not experiencing any setbacks overnight.
“We want to make sure he comes to the rink feeling as good as he left today, but we expect all those things to happen, so we expect him in the lineup,” Maurice said.
The Panthers, also playing without captain Sasha Barkov in those five games, have gone 3-1-1 and have points in four straight heading into Tuesday night.
During the two games he played, Tkachuk logged a pair of assists and seven shots on goal.
He was first spotted on the ice Saturday morning at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, skating with Barkov and Tomas Nosek before Florida’s morning skate.
Now, with no setbacks in the time since, Tkachuk will be returning to the Panthers lineup.
He’ll likely slide back onto a line with Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe, where he skated on Monday in Fort Lauderdale.
Tkachuk will also slide back onto his usual spot on Florida’s top power play.
Fortunately for the Cats, the line of Anton Lundell centering Eetu Luostarinen and Sam Reinhart has been scorching hot.
That unit will remain together at least until Barkov comes back, which could happen as soon as this week.
Florida will begin a three-game road trip on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden before facing the Islanders and Sabres on Saturday and Monday, respectively.
After that, Florida's next games are a pair agains the Dallas Stars in Barkov's hometown of Tampere, Finland.
Maurice said Monday that Barkov will likely play at some point on that pre-Finland trip.
“I think he plays before we go to Finland,” Maurice said. “Which of the three New York games, I’m not sure. If it’s not right where we need to be, it’ll be Finland, but he’ll be playing in Finland.”
Nosek has been considered week-to-week since being injured early in the preseason but, similarly to Barkov, is expected back by the time Florida heads to Finland to face the Stars on Nov. 1 and 2.
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