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Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, who sustained a lower-body injury during Team USA's run to the 4 Nations Face-Off finale, will not play Saturday against the Seattle Kraken, coach Paul Maurice said Friday. Tkachuk played just 6 minutes, 47 seconds in Team USA's 3-2 overtime loss to the Canadians in the title game Thursday at TD Garden in Boston. He wanted to return, but remained on the bench.
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He totaled three points, with two goals and an assist, which tied for the ninth-most among players, at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Tkachuk totaled 57 points, the second-most among Panthers players, through 52 NHL games this season. He logged 22 goals and 35 assists during that stretch.
Maurice did not provide many details about Tkachuk's injury, but said he is day-to-day. Tkachuk's brother, Brady, implied Thursday that the issue could be "serious."
"He usually battles through anything," Brady told reporters Thursday in Boston. "But I think it's got to be really serious for him not to be able to go because he's such a warrior."
The Panthers (34-20-3) sit in first place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They will take on the Kraken (24-29-4) at 6 p.m. EST Saturday in Sunrise, Fla.
