Matthew Tkachuk from US

Montreal (AP) – Matthew Tkachuk He left the victory of confronting 4 nations from the United States over Canada on Saturday night due to what coach Mike Sullivan called an injury at the bottom of the body.

There were few details beyond that after the 3-1 victory.

“It is being evaluated by our doctors,” Sullivan. “That is all I can offer you. We will make decisions that we believe are the best for Matthew and we believe it is better for our team. At this time I do not have much information to continue, so it is difficult for me to give your more.”

Tkachuk went to the bank in the third period of only nine seconds in one turn and skated several times testing something that was bothering him. He seemed to tell the assistant coach John Tortorella at a time that “could not go”, and played only 1:13 in the third and at all in the last 12 minutes.

When asked several times about how he felt, Tkachuk reached the injury and tried to change the subject.

“There is no concern at all,” Tkachuk said. “I feel good. Definitely better after a victory. It should be fine.”

The United States concluded a place in the final of the 4 nations on Thursday night in Boston, so Sullivan could choose to rest Tkachuk on Monday night at the end of Round-Robin against Sweden that is not related to the Result of the international tournament administered by NHL. Veteran extreme Chris Kreider It is available to play if Tkachuk does not.

But it does not seem that Tkachuk wants to miss anything from this tournament after he and many other league players waited so long to return to the competition of Elite Country versus Country with the best players in the world. It almost reaches its level by winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers Last season.

“Apart from game 7 last year, this has been the highlight of my hockey career,” Tkachuk said. “I’m just going to enjoy it with the boys.”