WASHINGTON – Matthew Tokachuk and Alexander Barkov’s focus is now on the next two games for the Florida Panthers at the St. Louis Blues on Thursday (8pm; FDSNMW, Scripps), with Ottawa Senators on Saturday I’m at home against.
Tkachuk expects his loyalty will change from trying to win with Barkov to trying to defeat him. Tkachuk and Team USA will face Barkov and Team Finland in their first game at the 4 Nations Face Off at Bell Centre in Montreal on February 13th (8pm, ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS ).
“The switch will flip right away,” Tkachuk said Tuesday. “I think everyone is jacked by these international events representing your country, so I’m sure the game will be over. After that, I will be Full Team USA.”
Tkachuk said that in three seasons since the Panthers acquired the 27-year-old left fielder on June 22, 2022 in a trade with the Calgary Flames, he said, “These people I have for the rest of my life.” I’ve built a bond with them.” VE went to the Stanley Cup final of the last two seasons, defeating the Edmonton Oilers to win the Panthers’ first championship after losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023.
Florida (32-20-3) makes his first appearance in the Atlantic Division again, with a repeating design as a Stanley Cup champion, but Barkov said he will be placed aside during the face-off of the 4 Nations. NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the US will be held in Montreal and Boston from February 12-20.
“I don’t think we’ll be that friend on the ice when we go there and play against each other,” said Barkov, the 29-year-old Panthers captain. “It’s a great honor to play for our country and we’re always trying to give our team everything you have to try to win the game.”
Barkov is one of four Florida players on the Finnish roster, featuring Anton Randell and Etu Luastalinen and defensive man Nico Miccola. Tkachuk does not have the Panthers as a US teammate, but he joins forces with his younger brother Senator Brady Tkachuk.
“So I think it’s pretty even,” randell joked.
The Panthers are well aware of the impact Tkachuk can have. Barkov remembers how difficult it was to face Matthew during his nine seasons with Calgary, and has even greater admiration for him from playing with Florida.
