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Sure, it’s a season-opener, a storied rivalry, the christening of a brand-new building.

Even still, it’s not often that a veteran of 1,200-plus National Hockey League contests will admit he might be overwhelmed by butterflies during a game.

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So what gives?

Simple.

In this case, Keith Tkachuk won’t be on the ice.

His 18-year-old son Matthew will be.

“Oh yeah, it’s much easier playing the game than being a parent, watching,” Keith said Tuesday afternoon, bags packed for a trip to watch Wednesday’s lid-lifter between the Calgary Flames and the provincial rival Oilers at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

“It’s going to be nerve-wracking for my wife (Chantal) and I. When you play, you just don’t think about it. You’re nervous — I was nervous before any opening game of the season — but I can’t imagine what we’re going to feel like in the stands.

“I’m sure Matthew is going to have some butterflies. I’m sure that first shift is going to be, you know, not a great shift because he is just going to be on Cloud 9. But with the way the game is played now, you better be on your toes and I think he’ll settle in.