Tkachuk of Panthers misses Game 5 of Stanley Cup Final

LAS VEGAS -- Matthew Tkachuk did not play for the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, a 9-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday, because of a broken sternum.

The forward did not practice Monday and was labeled a game-time decision by Florida coach Paul Maurice earlier Tuesday. Tkachuk did not play for a long stretch in the third period of a 3-2 loss in Game 4 on Saturday.

"He didn't dress himself for the game," Maurice said after the season-ending loss. "Somebody helped him get his gear on, somebody tied his skates, somebody put his sweater on for him. But the next day when he came in, he was in significant pain. There wasn't really a question on whether he'd be able to play or not. The idea would be if we could let it calm, we might be able to get him to Game 7 (next Monday)."

Tkachuk was replaced in the lineup by rookie forward Grigori Denisenko, who made his debut in the Stanley Cup Playoffs but was minus-3 in 5:57 of ice time. The 22-year-old had three assists in 18 regular-season games.

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Tkachuk entered Tuesday with Vegas' Jonathan Marchessault and Roope Hintz of the Dallas Stars for the NHL lead with 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 20 playoff games.

The 25-year-old was limited to four shifts in the third period, sitting for a stretch of 10:41 at one point, because of an unspecified injury in Game 4. But he was able to play the final 2:26 when Florida had an extra attacker, including the last 17.4 seconds on the power play, pushing for the tying goal.

Tkachuk also missed time in the first period and start of the second period in Game 3, when he was evaluated for a possible concussion following a hit from Vegas forward Keegan Kolesar. He returned and scored the game-tying goal at 17:47 of the third in a 3-2 overtime victory.

Defensemen Brandon Montour and Radko Gudas, who also did not participate in the optional practice Monday, were able to play in Game 5. Forward Nick Cousins did not practice but took part in the optional morning skate Tuesday and was in the lineup.

Forward Eetu Luostarinen missed his fifth straight game after blocking a shot off his leg in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes.