Tkachuk (illness) will return to the Panthers' lineup Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Tkachuk was sidelined Thursday with an illness, but he'll be good to go for Saturday's contest in New Jersey. The 25-year-old winger will return to a top six role, in which he's posted 39 points (14 goals, 25 assists) through 28 games this season.

Tkachuk (illness) isn't expected to play Thursday against Pittsburgh, per George Richards of Panthers Press Box.

EDGE Analysis

Tkachuk missed Thursday's practice because of the illness, and he wasn't on the ice for the pregame warmups. He has 14 goals and 39 points in 28 contests this season. Aleksi Heponiemi, who was called up from the minors Thursday, is likely to draw into the lineup.

Tkachuk is not at practice and may be missing with an illness, George Richards of Panthers Press Box reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Panthers may have a bug running through the team as Carter Verhaeghe missed Tuesday's tilt against Columbus with an illness. Tkachuk is having a great season with 14 goals, 25 assists and 107 shots on goal in only 28 games. He is questionable for Thursday's tilt against Pittsburgh.

Tkachuk scored a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 4-0 win over the Blue Jackets.

EDGE Analysis

Both points came in the second period as the Panthers began to pile on insurance tallies after jumping out to an early 1-0 lead. Florida's top line did most of the heavy lifting in this one, as Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart combined for three goals and seven points. For his part, Tkachuk has nine multi-point performances in his last 15 games, a blistering stretch in which he's racked up nine goals and 22 points.

Tkachuk had a goal and an assist in Thursday's 5-1 victory over Detroit.

EDGE Analysis

He has three goals and five assists during a four-game point streak. Tkachuk leads Florida this season with 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists) in 25 games, which puts him sixth overall in league scoring.

Tkachuk scored a goal on three shots and added a power-play assist in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Kraken.

EDGE Analysis

Tkachuk was initially credited with another helper, but that was changed later in the game. The winger has multiple points in seven of his last 10 contests, a surge that has seen him post seven goals and 10 assists. For the season, he's up to 12 tallies, 34 points (10 on the power play), 98 shots, 39 PIM and a plus-8 rating as an instant success in his first year with the Panthers.

Tkachuk scored a goal on three shots and added a pair of assists in Thursday's 5-1 win over the Canucks.

EDGE Analysis

Tkachuk has multiple points in six of the last nine games, and third was his fourth three-point effort of the season. The winger opened the scoring in the first period and helped out on both of Sam Bennett's tallies later in the game. Tkachuk has 11 goals, 21 helpers, 95 shots on net, 39 PIM and a plus-7 rating in 22 outings. He's on pace to exceed the career-high 104 points he produced as a member of the Flames last season.

Tkachuk scored a goal on four shots and added a power-play assist in Monday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Oilers.

EDGE Analysis

Tkachuk was booed right from the start, as Oilers fans clearly remember his antics in Battles of Alberta from years past. The winger got some early revenge with a first-period tally and also helped out on Brandon Montour's goal in the third, but the Oilers got the last laugh with a late comeback. Over the last seven games, Tkachuk has five goals and seven assists, with five of those outings resulting in multiple points. The 24-year-old winger has 10 tallies, 19 helpers, 89 shots, 37 PIM, 16 hits and a plus-7 rating through 20 appearances.

Tkachuk contributed a goal in a 5-3 loss versus the Blue Jackets on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Tkachuk extended his goal scoring streak to three games and his point streak to four contests. He has eight goals and 25 points in 17 games this season. That translates to a points-per-game pace of 1.47, which is incredible and something that only an absolute cream of the crop forward would have any hope of maintaining for an entire season. Tkachuk does play at an elite level so the possibility of him continuing to produce at this rate can't be completely dismissed, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him slow down a little as the season continues.

Tkachuk scored an even-strength goal and added a power-play assist in Saturday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Flames.

EDGE Analysis

His tally midway through the third period was the final goal of regulation and earned the Panthers a point, but they couldn't find a winner. Tkachuk has reeled off three straight multi-point performances, boosting his numbers on the season to seven goals and 24 points through 16 games as he proves last year's breakout in Calgary was no fluke.