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Florida Panthers Scratch Matthew Tkachuk Just Moments Before Game
Tonight's Florida Panthers lineup against the Montreal Canadiens will be missing some serious firepower.
The Panthers have announced two significant absences:
«Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk out for Panthers tonight.
Verhaeghe is week to week, team confident will be ready for playoffs. Tkachuk is ill.
#FlaPanthers at Montreal tonight, TV
@BallySportsFL
Verhaeghe is week to week, team confident will be ready for playoffs. Tkachuk is ill.
#FlaPanthers at Montreal tonight, TV
@BallySportsFL
Matthew Tkachuk, sidelined by illness, and Carter Verhaeghe, nursing an injury from Monday's clash with the Toronto Maple Leafs, are both out.
Tkachuk's absence is a blow to the Panthers' offense; he's been a dynamo this season with 23 goals and 57 assists over 74 games. Verhaeghe, too, has been on a tear, notching 33 goals and 38 assists in 75 games, including five points in his last six outings.
This comes at a crucial time for the Panthers, who are jockeying for position in the Atlantic Division. They're currently four points ahead of the Leafs, who have a game in hand. Missing two key players tonight could make that race even tighter.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 2 | 51 ANSWERS Florida Panthers Scratch Matthew Tkachuk Just Moments Before Game Do you think Matthew Tkachuk is a big factor of the Panthers success this season? | ||
| Yes | 33 | 64.7 % |
| No | 18 | 35.3 % |
| List of polls | ||