“I’m sure a lot of guys probably had ‘Marchy,'” Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers already knew who it was going to be. And sure enough, the Panthers forward Brad Marchand perfectly delivered at 8:05 into the second overtime to score that breakaway goal and seal the 5–4 victory for his team to level the series at 1-1. But how did he do it?

According to the Panthers’ head coach, Paul Maurice, it’s the magic of—“That‘s a set of hands, that’s at the top end, right? Those guys are special. So I didn’t know that till you get on the ice with them.” And to our surprise, he didn’t fully appreciate how skilled Marchand’s hands are until he actually saw it firsthand, meanwhile highlighting the impressive control and quickness Marchand shows on ice. For him, it’s always been his team’s deep chemistry and the veteran players who shaped the entire locker room ahead of every big game and hence brought some comparisons between the league’s most intense forecheckers—Marchand and Tkachuk.

Of course, the initial impression was not the best. “The personality part, you know, there was a little bit of Matthew Tkachuk in there. I’m in Winnipeg, he’s in Calgary. I’m not a big Matthew Tkachuk fan. I understand the fans don’t like those guys,” he began while speaking to the media on Sunday. “We’re here, we had the two heaviest series that I’ve ever been a part of for the two Boston series last year. I mean, they’re nasty,” he added. But now that he has got to the opportunity to know ‘the Rat’ better, he cannot help but praise his attitude. “He’s in a great mood every day. And it starts at breakfast from the time he walks in, right? And that’s just who he is. He’s a very upbeat, positive, caring person,” he added.

However, beyond Marchand’s lethal accuracy and playmaking, there’s another side that’s just as valuable. But what? Talk about his presence and it isn’t just about sticks and stats, but the charm he adds to the locker room. Is it about his quick wit and laughter that break tension and build unity? The Panthers GM, Bill Zito, thinks along similar lines.  “Getting to know him a little bit more (as) a human, he’s more special than I could have imagined on that front,” Zito stated while talking about the ex-Bruin captain who is soon going to hit the open market in the NHL. “As a teammate and as a character human. From that standpoint, it’s like frosting on the cake,” Zito further expressed.

But here’s another interesting part. Turns out that Brad Marchand’s 2OT magic might have come with a side of extra sprinkles! Sam Bennett, in a postgame interview, revealed the secret that led Marchand to create wonders on ice. “I think Marchy grabbed a Blizzard,” Bennett replied, and Brad Marchand didn’t wait but jokingly added, “Yeah, Oreo today.” Fans too spotted him snacking between periods earlier in the playoffs, and while many thought that the Panthers forward was fueling with Blizzard, Marchand later claimed it was honey.

Whether it’s the sugar rush or just vintage Marchand timing, it is certain that whatever he’s scooping up off the ice is working just as well as what he’s doing on it, and Matthew Tkachuk couldn’t deny it.

Matthew Tkachuk spills the secret behind Brad Marchand’s locker room vibes!

While the early chemistry between Tkachuk and Marchand started off on the flip side, considering that they played opposite each other in the playoff battles, Tkachuk, ever since Marchand’s arrival in Florida, has altered the dynamics framing their relationship. It’s been unreal having him in. And he’s got what everybody wants in this league, and that’s that winning pedigree and being a champion and having that experience,” Matthew Tkachuk said.

And it looks like their growing bond isn’t just built on shared competitive fire but on how Marchand brings nonstop impact with his stick for the Panthers. In fact, Marchand’s recent spark could be seen during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, where his two breakaway goals just positioned him as the great player in the squad. “You see it tonight… I saw that a ton from him in Boston, and it’s waaaaay better seeing it here,” Tkachuk admitted in a post-game interview.

And not only this, but for Tkachuk, he is–“No, he’s great. Keeps the room really light, but he’s ultra competitive. You see the mindset he gets into when it becomes game time.” Perhaps one of the core additions to the Panthers’ strength that keeps them flourishing and fighting hard for the big hunt–the Stanley Cup! Will Florida make its name once again?