Matthew Tkachuk makes shocking admission regarding his injury ahead of crucial Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 against Oilers

Ahead of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Matthew Tkachuk's status was more than up in the air. The star forward had been dealing with a groin injury since the 4 Nations Face-Off, and it wasn't clear when he'd be back.

He ultimately did return during the first round, but that was never a given. In fact, the forward wasn't sure he'd play in the postseason at all, though he's since returned and been an instrumental player.

Tkachuk said ahead of Game 6:

"I didn't know if I was gonna come back at the start, and kind of found out the day before I was gonna have a chance to play day of... the first round was definitely the worst I felt by far."

He went on to say that the opening series with the Tampa Bay Lightning, not the second round that took seven games with the Toronto Maple Leafs or the ECF against the Carolina Hurricanes, would be the "toughest." That's why he pushed through.

He added:

"Now I'm feeling the best I've felt. So personally, I'm very happy with where the health is and everything, and just very lucky that I'm able to be playing. I did not think I was going to be playing."

He admitted he was at a 50% chance he wouldn't end up playing, which might've made this playoff run look very different for the Florida Panthers.

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Matthew Tkachuk treating Game 6 like a must-win

The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers will faceoff on Tuesday for the sixth game of the series. If Edmonton wins, there will be another game to decide it. That's not how Matthew Tkachuk views it, though.

Matthew Tkachuk wants to win it tonight (Imagn)

He said, via ESPN:

"There's no secret that the Cup's in the building. It's going to be the toughest test, biggest game. We have to treat this as a Game 7."

Tkachuk added:

"We played one Game 7, so maybe we have a tiny advantage with knowing the desperation that they're going to come out with. We have to match that desperation."

So far, both the Maple Leafs and Hurricanes have avoided elimination at least once against the Panthers, so they're hoping to bury Edmonton for the second straight season in Florida.