It feels like a miracle that Matthew Tkachuk didn’t end up in the hospital after playing Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final with a broken sternum.
Yes, you read that right. Tkachuk played Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final with a broken sternum after taking a gnarly hit the game prior. In fact, Tkachuk logged nearly 17 minutes of ice time during the game, all while nursing a broken sternum.
Tkachuk ended up sitting out the series’ deciding Game 5 due to the injury.
The news of Tkachuk’s injury came after the Florida Panthers lost to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night, ending their Stanley Cup bid. Tkachuk’s injury was so bad, in fact, that the forward couldn’t even dress himself for Game 4. Someone else had to help him into his gear to play!
"He couldn't dress himself for the game. Somebody helped him get his gear on. Somebody helped him tie his skates."
Paul Maurice discusses Matthew Tkachuk's injury and how he was able to play Game 4. pic.twitter.com/04qhW9SeUc
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 14, 2023
Hockey players have a reputation of playing through pain and serious injury, but what Tkachuk and the Panthers did here was completely reckless. No hockey game — yes, even the Stanley Cup Final! — is worth risking your long-term health over, especially in a high-impact sport like this.
NHL fans were horrified to learn that Tkachuk had played Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final with a broken sternum.
Father's Day deal
Every year I'm disappointed and shocked by finding out what awful injuries players were allowed to play through, but Matthew Tkachuk needing help getting out of bed and getting dressed and playing with a broken sternum is a new level of reckless
— Andrew Schnittker (@aschnitt53) June 14, 2023
cannot emphasize enough how stupid that is https://t.co/JeDpud913M
— ✪ kate ⍟ (@FleurySkjei) June 14, 2023
this isn’t a “hockey men are so big and tough rah rah rah” moment it’s just incredibly stupid and the team doctors are incompetent https://t.co/cdXxWs0Kty
— carmen❤️🔥 (@carmensleafs) June 14, 2023
Inexcusable that they let him take the ice. You gotta tell guys no in that instance https://t.co/K5cKAvU1KU
— Mark (@MarkPiselli13) June 14, 2023
we studied this type of behavior in my undergrad and it’s crazy we call these people warriors yet preach “stay healthy!”. there’s nothing warrior like playing through an injury. this is the stuff that causes long term health issues that ultimately end careers early https://t.co/6bwZodqOJM
— thotcheeto 🧸 (@beskarbby) June 14, 2023
Hm seems like he shouldn’t have been playing then https://t.co/PuqSWgoSwG
— sarah (@punkwich) June 14, 2023
i think we can all agree it's crucial to treat this entertainment sport like a battle to the death. definitely necessary to play thru a broken sternum and four cracked ribs!! https://t.co/nh1CQZp4RH
— Gavia Baker-Whitelaw (@Hello_Tailor) June 14, 2023
I don’t understand nhl medical staffs because how do you let this slide?? there’s no way a normal doctor would let him go into a full contact sport let alone even skate? https://t.co/pXbvIcHnIJ
— mahi (@avocadomahi) June 14, 2023
You know, at some point someone will die because they deem it unacceptable to miss a game. https://t.co/Ehes5zXx4l
— Edna Garrett (@WatchMyReview) June 14, 2023
