BOSTON — Matthew Tkachuk was unable to participate in the third period and overtime during the Four Nations Face-Off championship game against Canada on Thursday, raising concerns about how his injury could impact his return to the Florida Panthers when the NHL season resumes.


Tkachuk sustained an injury during last week’s preliminary round clash between the United States and Canada, which kept him from playing against Sweden in the round-robin finale on Monday. The coaching staff of the U.S. did not provide specifics about Tkachuk’s condition, other than mentioning that it was a lower-body injury, as confirmed by coach Mike Sullivan.


Following the loss to Canada, in which Connor McDavid scored the overtime winning goal, Tkachuk’s brother and teammate, Brady Tkachuk, expressed concern over his brother’s health, noting, “He battles through absolutely everything, and I don’t think it’s too good. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what ends up happening, but I know he was really disappointed.”


Meanwhile, Panthers General Manager Bill Zito, who was part of the U.S. management at the NHL-affiliated tournament, has been closely monitoring Tkachuk’s situation. Zito acquired Tkachuk in a notable trade with Calgary during the summer of 2022, and together they celebrated a Stanley Cup victory last season.


In the meantime, Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington delivered an impressive performance in Boston, stopping 31 of the 33 shots he faced. Binnington made 20 consecutive saves after allowing a goal to Jake Sanderson and halted six shots during overtime. His performance echoed his success during the 2019 finals, where he helped St. Louis clinch the Stanley Cup by defeating the Bruins with a similar save percentage.


“They had a lot of good chances, and our goalie made some real big saves,” tournament MVP Nathan MacKinnon remarked about Binnington’s efforts. Coach Jon Cooper’s decision to let Binnington start all four games was pivotal, particularly given the uncertainties surrounding Canada’s goaltending prior to the Four Nations event. His strong showing could position him favorably for a starting role in the Milan Olympics next year.


The U.S. squad witnessed a notable absence as Charlie McAvoy, who had been one of their standout players in the initial games, was sidelined due to a shoulder injury that resulted in infection and needed hospitalization, thus ruling him out of the final. Despite not being able to join his teammates on the ice, McAvoy supported them from the stands, drawing cheers from the crowd when he appeared on the video board.


In a surprising turn, Jake Sanderson, who was initially not part of the U.S. roster, was added as a late injury replacement for the reigning Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes. After being a healthy scratch earlier in the tournament, he took advantage of his opportunity, scoring during the game. “Whether I was playing or not, just be positive, and if I was in, just keep it simple and use my feet,” Sanderson conveyed during an ESPN interview at halftime. “I kind of just blacked out. Great play from the guys to get the puck to the net, and I think I just got lucky there.”