The Florida Panthers will have to face the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final without their star forward, Matthew Tkachuk. Tkachuk was injured earlier in the series and will not be able to play in the upcoming game. The Panthers are currently trailing 3-1 in the series and will try to avoid elimination in the game.
Tkachuk has been Florida’s leading scorer in the postseason, with 11 goals and 24 points. He has also been the team’s most valuable forward in the playoffs, with four game-winning goals, three of which came in overtime. However, he was limited to just 16 minutes and 40 seconds of ice time in the Panthers’ Game 4 loss due to an upper-body injury.
Although Tkachuk was cleared from concussion protocol after a hit from Vegas forward Keegan Kolesar in Game 3, he may still be feeling the effects of his hard fall to the ice after that hit. Tkachuk’s status for Game 5 was kept under wraps by Florida coach Paul Maurice until just before puck drop, when it was announced that Tkachuk would not be playing.
Forward Grigori Denisenko will take Tkachuk’s place in the lineup. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov expressed disappointment over Tkachuk’s absence, saying that he is a top player in the league and a huge player for their team. However, Barkov also expressed confidence in his team’s ability to step up and play better without Tkachuk.
Other Panthers players echoed Barkov’s sentiments, saying that they have been shorthanded before and that Tkachuk’s absence is an opportunity for other players to step up and take on a bigger role. Center Sam Bennett, who is Tkachuk’s linemate, said that it shouldn’t be an issue for the team.
The Panthers will need to win Game 5 to stay alive in the series and keep their hopes of winning the Stanley Cup alive. While Tkachuk’s absence will be felt, the team is confident that they can step up and play better without him. The game will be played at T-Mobile Arena, where the Stanley Cup is currently being held.
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