“You miss competing, you miss the fans, the energy, the emotion, the battles with the other team,” an elated Matthew Tkachuk said after helping the Panthers win their first game against Tampa Bay in the playoffs today. Remembering that the Florida star was decommissioned out of action ever since the lower-body injury Tkachuk picked up at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, the glee over being back is justified. And yet, the Panthers’ head coach, Paul Maurice, wasn’t impressed. Not really.

The Panthers’ regular season wasn’t what you’d expect from the defending Stanley Cup champs. Posting a 47-31-4 record, Maurice’s boys were mediocre at best over the final stretch of the regular season, and one could speculate: probably not having Matthew did make a difference. However, he’s back now, and the Miami team’s fans can breathe a sigh of relief. But the HC thinks it’ll be a long way before Tkachuk gets his mojo back.

At the Amalie Arena today, the Florida Panthers secured a thunderous 6-2 win over the Bolts to take the lead in the seven-game series. Matthew Tkachuk, playing his first hockey game after months, instantly proved why he’s considered such an incredible talent with the stick. The 27-year-old forward scored twice against Tampa Bay. And yet, in a YouTube upload by the official Panthers’ channel on April 22, Coach Maurice was heard saying how his star player’s performance tonight didn’t overwhelm him.

“I thought his game was okay. When you put it in the context, he hasn’t played a hockey game in two months. You know, you or I wouldn’t have any hands in that game. For him, he can still take that much time off and handle a puck the way he handles it. And the rest of it was just smartly played by him,” Maurice told reporters without too much jubilation in his voice, despite the massive win. Along with that, the veteran hockey coach also noted how Matthew’s colleagues helped to make his comeback easier.

“But I was very happy with Mackie and Sam Bennett. I thought they played a really smart…and allowed Matthew to kind of get re-acclimated to the game,” Maurice said. Forward Mackie Samoskevich picked up an assist, while Sam Bennett managed to find the back of the Bolts’ net to make Tkachuk’s first game after so long a memorable one. And yet, while his face lit up recalling the immaculate way his boys secured the win, Maurice still couldn’t stop noting how Matthew didn’t look to be in his “rhythm“. Then again, a little slip-up on Matthew Tkachuk’s part should be excused.

The Panthers’ star has been out for too long, some would argue. He was kept on the sidelines, marked as LTIR (long-term injury reserve), and even before today’s game, Maurice had noted Tkachuk would be a last-minute decision for Florida. And, despite his zeal to lace up for the playoffs, hockey fans from other camps couldn’t help but vent how Matthew was allowed to play in Game 1 while several other stars had to accept an one-match suspension because they attempted to appear for the playoffs after not having played game 82 of the regular season. But when you’re a hockey fan, you know such controversies only try to muddy the waters. Be what it may, the Florida squadron has bigger things ahead to focus on.

Can Matthew Tkachuk keep the Cup in Miami?

In the 2024-25 regular season, both the Panthers and the Bolts have bagged two wins against each other. And yet, despite the commendable record against their in-state rivals, the defending Stanley Cup winners finished the regular season campaign behind the Bolts, making many pundits predict that the Tampa Bay side would go on to win the Round 1 series and move on to the next round. Moreover, with all the last five Stanley Cup Finals seeing one team from the Sunshine State, both the Cats and Bolts would undoubtedly try their best to maintain the tradition this time as well.

On the other hand, Matthew Tkachuk proved to be a significant force behind Florida’s Stanley Cup victory last year. With 6 goals and 16 assists in 24 games, the left winger was the centerpiece of Paul Maurice’s strategy to clinch the biggest hockey prize in North America. And this time, he’ll have some extra help to aid him down the path.

In March, the Panthers were joined by an unexpected guest. After the Boston Bruins failed to reach a financial agreement with their long-time captain Brad Marchand, the Canadian was traded to Florida. Quite a shocker? We agree! However, thankfully, the Panthers’ aggressive play seem to be making Marchand feeling right at home. On April 11, the inaugural 4 Nations face-Off winner noted his new comrades as “an incredible and special group,” as he noted that it has been almost effortless for him to adapt to how Maurice’s boys play. With the formidable star from the Bruins cap coming over, and Matthew Tkachuk making it look like he picked up from where he left off, how do you think Florida will fare in the next six games against their arch nemesis? Tell us!