If heated moments in replays of playoff rivalries do not prove the high emotional tensions, Matthew Tkachuk’s name being in the center of those stories definitely will. “Classic playoff hockey,” that’s what the Panthers’ player had to say last year as he headlocked Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid, landing a few punches. But Tkachuk’s rivalry with the Oilers and Edmonton was not new. When the Panthers and the Oilers met in December 2024, Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse laid Tkachuk out with a blatant elbow.

It was not just the passion for the game, but a reminder to the Panther about how the dislike for him in those parts had not changed since his Calgary Flame days, a team that is passionately despised by the Oilers nation. That year, Florida snatched the Stanley Cup. But they have to defend their title against Edmonton once again. And with the rising pressure of the Oilers already in a 1-0 lead, Tkachuk’s name has returned to the fistfight club.

As he entered Game 2 today, Tkachuk knew “It’s just us against everybody.“ But the forward took matters into his own hands. With 11:11 remaining in the first quarter and game tied at 1-1, the cameras turned to focus on the winger pushing his stick into Edmonton’s Nurse, trying to punch it out with the defenseman. Although Florida #19 isn’t known for his reservations about dropping gloves without skipping a heartbeat, Tkachuk for one, did not impress the fans this time. 

Sportsnet shared the clip on their official X account captioned “Darnell Nurse and Matthew Tkachuk get acquainted early in Game 2” justifiably accompanied by a box of popcorn emoji. Take a look at what went down in Rogers Place:

Update: The Panthers won 5-4 over the hosting Oilers to tie the series 1-1 with a consistent playing in the first half, leading Edmonton 4-3. The teams will now return to Florida to play at the Panthers’ home: Amerant Bank Arena.

It’s the second straight year that both of these teams are back in the Stanley Cup Finals. For understandable reasons, the tempers were already running high. However, the fans weren’t happy with the scenes from tonight’s game. They were even less happy about how Tkachuk seems to be the recurrent name every time there’s a fight on the ice.

Fans double down on Matthew Tkachuk

“We’re going to have to play our best to give ourselves an opportunity,” Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said before the Stanley Cup rematch against the old foes. That, in itself, was a call to arms for his squad. While that at-war mentality was obviously going to make things intense, Matthew Tkachuk also wasn’t going to be watching from the sidelines. But the scuffle with Nurse didn’t seem to do justice to Matthew’s reputation tonight. “Look at how intimidated Matt looks,” said one X user, underscoring how it was the Oilers star who looked more composed during the fight. And it’s true.

If you look at Nurse, he knows doing anything irrational even to defend himself could put him in trouble. And so, as soon as the referee entered between the two, he simply walked off smiling. Again, didn’t sit well with the spectators.

“Matthew Tkachuk is such a baby, putting his stick in the opponents face every time he instigates sh** after the whistle,” another one sneered on X. If anything, the Florida Panthers are known for their aggressive play style. Ex-Bruins captain, Brad Marchand, who transferred to Miami in March and is known for being a feisty player with the stick, admitted that the Cats’ physical way of handling business was something that was scintillating, even for him. But Tkachuk’s eagerness to get into the thick of things didn’t sit well with the community today.

On top of it all, it almost once again showed how the Panthers often get away without a scratch. “Only team that can get away with punching a guy in the face with your stick in your hand,” one fan grunted. “Tkachuk threw half a dozen punches with a high stick to the throat,” another instead posited that Matthew’s actions should have harsher punishment.

That sentiment isn’t misplaced, truth be told. In Game 1, Sam Bennett was in the middle of a crossfire for his alleged interference on the Oilers’ netminder. Coach Knoblauch was livid and didn’t hold back on his thoughts on the Panthers’ forward. Maybe that’s why the Oilers didn’t offer any respite to Paul Maurice’s boys today.

“#Oilers aren’t taking the #Panthers crap! They as dirty and tough as Florida. Just luv it!!” one fan looked elated to see Connor McDavid & Co. holding their ground. What did you think of the scrum in Game 2? Tell us!