Matthew Tkachuk’s profile is a rarity in the NHL.
He’s a bloodhound that wins puck battles yet offers elite scoring touch.
His greasy play in the corners opens up space and creates chances, adding to a relentless Florida forecheck.
Aside from this effect benefiting his linemates, Tkachuk’s nose for deflecting shots and eating rebounds provides looks for himself.
His scouting report has translated all postseason as he has opened each of the previous three playoff series ambitiously on the scoresheet with five points and 10 shots on goal in a Game 1.
Tkachuk leads the Panthers in shots per game with 3.88 and has registered four or more in 10 of 17 playoff games.
He’s the most steady player prop on a Florida team that overwhelmingly hogs the puck at five-on-five play.
In all situations through the playoffs, Tkachuk owns the single highest unblocked shot attempt rate between both the Panthers and Oilers rosters at 68 percent, according to Moneypuck.
Edmonton emerged as a more defensively competent team in the Western Conference Final, though I think Florida won’t be nearly as susceptible to offensive turnovers as Dallas was.
From a narrative-driven standpoint, no one knows and seems to disdain the Oilers more than Tkachuk from the six years he spent in Calgary.
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He owns a plus-12 goal differential against them throughout his career.
Empirically, Tkachuk generates enough rubber on net to like his four-plus shots prop price at home in Game 1 of his return to the Stanley Cup Final.
The play: Matthew Tkachuck to record 4+ Shots on Goal (FanDuel, +120)