The Florida Panthers are absolutely tearing it up in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Initially, they surprised everyone, including legends like Charles Barkley, by proving his predictions wrong about the Tampa Bay Lightning moving forward in the playoffs. They took down the team with a solid 4-1 series win. It’s interesting to think about how, after those first two games in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Toronto Maple Leafs could really put a dent in Florida’s hopes and dreams. But they got it wrong.
So, the series ended up going to Game 7, and the Panthers really took it to the Maple Leafs in the worst way imaginable, winning at home with a score of 6-1. The Toronto fans were so frustrated by this defeat that they ended up throwing their jerseys and beers at the Maple Leafs’ bench. This is how Florida totally takes a team apart! They’ve been at it for quite some time now. So, they’ve got the Carolina Hurricanes in their sights now. And guess what? The Panthers really took control in the first two games, completely dominating the Canes on their home ice.
They won Game 1 with a score of 5-2 and then followed it up with a 5-0 victory in Game 2. How much more embarrassing can this Eastern Conference Final get for the Hurricanes? In Game 2, Matthew Tkachuk got his first goal in the ECF. This came after all the worries fans had, as they felt that the Panthers forward hadn’t been at his best since that injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off in the regular season.
It seems like coach Paul Maurice wasn’t really that into this particular goal. After Game 2, he mentioned, “I think Luosty (Eetu Luostarinen) is still our leading scorer that I know, and I don’t follow that at all. Truly, I never ever look at the stats; it just doesn’t matter. Like, I think that’s more from the players.” Even though Tkachuk really made a difference in the game, Maurice’s comments seem to show that he’s trying to keep a team-first attitude, making sure that no one player’s performance takes the spotlight away from what the whole group is aiming for.
Image via Instagram/ @alieskowronski
Also, if we’re talking about scoring stats, Tkachuk doesn’t even make it into the top 3. Carter Verhaeghe (5-8-13), Eetu Luostarinen (4-9-13), and Sam Bennett (9-4-13) do indeed occupy those slots. But are you aware that Tkachuk made a certain reference following Game 2?
Matthew Tkachuk made a few things clear out there
After playing 14 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this postseason, Matthew Tkachuk has racked up 4 goals and 8 assists for a total of 12 points. One of his recent goals was in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes. After the match, the Panthers forward mentioned, “We’re up 2-0. I do not care how we get there. I’ve never cared. Sometimes it’s nice to go in, but it is what it is sometimes. I’m not Ovechkin, so they’re not always going to go in.”
Tkachuk is definitely someone who plays well with the team. Seeing the Panthers up 2-0 in the ECF has definitely boosted the forward’s confidence. He’s really happy that his team is doing great and totally taking charge against the Canes, even though they played the first two games on the Canes’ home turf.
The Panthers forward also made it clear that he’s not like Ovechkin; he’s not focused on chasing the top goal-scoring title in the NHL. He’s really looking forward to the adventures he can have with his team.
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