The Carolina Hurricanes’ Jordan Staal hasn’t forgotten the muck the Florida Panthers dragged them through back in 2023. En route to the Stanley Cup finals a couple of years ago, the Cats defeated the Canes in the Conference Finals series 4-0. Now, as the Eastern Conference giants await another postseason clash, Staal is all about getting even. “It’s definitely in the back of your mind and you want to get them back,” the Carolina star said ahead of Tuesday’s clash. But Matthew Tkachuk & Co. won’t give them a hall pass, that’s for sure.

“Listen, we know we’re playing the Stanley Cup champs,” Rod Brind’Amour, the Canes’ head coach, also sounded cautious as his side looks for payback. However, considering that Matthew Tkachuk and his teammates are also on a roll in their Cup defense campaign, expect the Panthers to arrive at the PNC Arena with all guns blazing on Tuesday. And yet, the Florida star can’t help but feel the pressure ahead of the confrontation.

In a YouTube upload by FloridaHockeyNow from May 19, the Panthers’ forward made his feelings clear before taking on the Metropolitan Division heavyweights at the latter’s home venue tomorrow. For the ardent hockey fan, the memory of Tkachuk’s buzzer-beater from 2023 against the Canes is still fresh. And yet, Matthew himself thinks both teams are likely to begin the upcoming series on a clean slate.

On being asked how much he’s looking forward to playing against Carolina in the postseason once again and rekindling the series from two years ago, Matthew Tkachuk said, “I don’t think really anybody enjoys playing Carolina. Like, they’re a tough team to play against, and they make it hard on you every game.”

In the final game of the 2023 series, Tkachuk’s goal with just 4.9 seconds left on the clock cemented his reputation as a franchise legend. Good times, yeah? And yet, Matthew is all about looking ahead with a fresh mind. “There were good memories here in this building a couple years ago, and that whole series for us. But, you know, it’s all back to zeroes now. It’s a new year, new series,” the Florida star said without beating around the bush.

In the 2024-25 regular season, the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes met thrice, with the Atlantic Division third-place finishers claiming two of those matches. But Brind’Amour’s boys have momentum on their side, having one the last of those three encounters.

But hey, the desire to hold on to hockey’s biggest prize can bring out the best in any team, and the Panthers aren’t any different. Don’t believe us? Just take a look at how they’ve dealt with their title defense campaign so far.

Matthew Tkachuk and the boys are running high on confidence

The Canes finished the regular season with 99 points and just below the divisional toppers, the Washington Capitals. The Panthers, on the other hand, rounded things off with just one point less, but in third place in the Atlantic Division. In the first and second rounds, the Hurricanes defeated the New Jersey Devils and the Caps, respectively (winning both rounds 4-1). However, things have been much more contentious for Matthew Tkachuk and his buddies.

In the first round of the playoffs, Florida was pitted against arch in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, for the second straight year. The Bolts finished the season above the Cats, but looked meek when they met in the postseason. Paul Maurice’s boys trampled over Tampa Bay to clinch the series 4-1. As their next challenge, the Panthers took on the divisional top seeds, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who themselves blitzed into the second round by ousting the Ottawa Senators from the Cup race.

After ceding ground in the first two games against the Leafs, the Panthers quickly turned things around by winning the next three. An unexpected setback in Game 6 didn’t deter the defending champs, who managed to show their worth in style by winning Game 7 6-1 in Toronto, despite the hosts’ best efforts.

With 3 goals and 6 assists, Matthew Tkachuk has been crucial throughout the Panthers’ postseason triumphs so far. Moreover, while many fans were irate to see him back for the playoffs following being decommissioned from action since the 4 Nations Face-Off, Tkachuk has managed to keep his head afloat over all the controversy. While there have been suspension scares along the way, keeping up with the forward’s aggressive play style, so far, so good.

So, how do you hope to see Chukcy and the rest of Maurice’s boys fare when they commence their journey against the familiar foes tomorrow? Tell us who you suspect to take the series in a comment below.