Matthew Tkachuk played with a fractured sternum

We suspected that Matthew Tkachuk must have been very, very, very banged up to miss Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. After an absolutely incredible run, the American had to watch the game from the catwalk tonight, and see himself helpless before the outcome.

Tkachuk is an undisputed warrior, so it was obvious that he was nursing an unbearable injury.

It is now known, according to Buccigross and David Dwork, that he was playing with a fractured sternum. The sternum, for those who don’t know, is this:

His brother, Brady, actually had to help him out of bed after his pre-game nap in game #4.

What a warrior.