Tkachuk enjoying more points, less penalties during second-half surge

SUNRISE, Fla. --You've heard it a million times before, I'm sure.
"The best ability is availability," the old saying goes.
Climbing up the NHL's scoring leaderboard and on pace for his second consecutive 100-point campaign, that's been the case for Matthew Tkachuk, according to head coach Paul Maurice.

On the morning before Tkachuk skated in his 500th career NHL game on Thursday, the Florida Panthers bench boss was asked how a 25-year-old forward already playing Hart Trophy-worthy hockey could elevate his game even further as he starts to enter the prime years of his career.
His answer?
Simply by spending more time on the ice.
"I believe truly you're seeing the maturation of a guy," Maurice said of Tkachuk's ascension. "He's feisty and he's an energy guy, and I think he leads with that. Now he's developed into a player that is good on both sides of the puck and clearly an elite point producer. He has an understanding that we need him on the ice. His discipline has gone kind of through the roof."
While it's the mix of physicality, personality and skill that make him such a unique player, Tkachuk has seemingly found the perfect combination of the three this season. He's still a menace on the ice, but he's learned how far he can go without drawing the ire of officials.
As his time in the penalty box has declined, his production has understandably increased. Over his first 34 games this season, Tkachuk racked up 43 points (17 goals, 26 assists) while garnering 59 penalty minutes and 17 minor penalties. In the 35 games since, he's produced 54 points (18 goals, 36 assists) while posting just 33 penalty minutes and nine minor penalties.
It's also important to note that of those 33 penalty minutes, 10 of them came as the result of a late misconduct during a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 4. If not for that outlier, the disparity between his penalty minutes in the first and second half would be even greater.
In the midst of his seventh NHL season, adaptability has become a key part of Tkachuk's game.
"I feel like that always happens," Tkachuk said. "At the start of the season, maybe I'm just excited and take a couple more penalties than I'd like. In the second half of the season, they always go down. As 500 [games] has gone by, I've definitely learned a lot. I wouldn't say I've changed my game at all. I've played pretty much the same way every game. I think it's just realizing the league I'm in and how I can be successful. That's definitely adapted a little bit."
Making his progression this season even more impressive is the fact that he hasn't had to sacrifice his signature level of intensity in order to find success. Comparing his second half to his first, he actually has more hits (27-23), takeaways (17-16) and high-danger shots (95-81).

During his active seven-game point streak in which he's posted seven goals and nine assists, Tkachuk has been whistled for just one minor penalty while being very involved in the action all over the ice.
With a front-row seat every game, his teammates have taken notice.
"He's taken control," defenseman Aaron Ekblad said. "He's a born leader. Everything he does on the ice shows that. He's taken the game by the reins and is doing all the right things, saying all the right things and backing it up. It's amazing to watch. He's so good at what he does."
Like Maurice, Tkachuk feels that one of the best things he can do at this stage of his career is just make sure that he's on the ice as much as possible. As long as he's out there, the goals and assists, the hits and the chirps, the big moments and the mouth-guard chewing, will all follow.
Every season, his primary goal is the same: never miss a minute.
"I want to play every single game," Tkachuk said. "I didn't get the chance to do that to be able to do that his year, but I always say that 82 games plus playoffs is my goal."
While he'll fall a few games short of 82 this season, the playoffs are still very much on the table. With 10 games left to play, the Panthers sit just one point out of a playoff spot. And if Tkachuk maintains his current level of play, there's no reason to think they can't reach the dance.
"We love him here," defenseman Gustav Forsling said. "I'm happy he's on my team."