Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk will return to action against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night after missing the past five games following what he called a "little procedure."

The Minnesota Wild ruined the return of Matthew Tkachuk, who had and assist and two shots in 22 shifts in his first game in two weeks.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Matthew Tkachuk will return to the lineup when the Florida Panthers close out their homestand against the Minnesota Wild at Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday. Tkachuk has missed the previous five games with an illness. "I'm feeling good right now,” Tkachuk said. “Ready to get back in the lineup and help."

The Florida Panthers have fared relatively well without the services of their two best players over the last week — but reinforcements are on the way. Matthew Tkachuk, who has missed the last five games because of an illness,

The Florida Panthers will be without forward Matthew Tkachuk for about another week because of an illness, meaning he could wind up missing at least six games.

Now, with no setbacks in the time since, Tkachuk will be returning to the Panthers lineup. He’ll likely slide back onto a line with Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe, where he skated on Monday in Fort Lauderdale. Tkachuk will also slide back onto his usual spot on Florida’s top power play.

The Florida Panthers will be without LW Matthew Tkachuk due to illness against the Buffalo Sabres, per NHL insider Elliotte Friedman. In his place, Spencer Knight will get the start. The Panthers will also be without C Aleksander Barkov (lower body), who is expected to miss two to three weeks.

Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk will end a five-game absence on Tuesday when he takes the ice against the Minnesota Wild in Sunrise, Fla. Tkachuk reportedly was sidelined due to an illness, however he told reporters on Tuesday after the morning skate that it was not the case.