Matthew Tkachuk made a huge splash with his return in Round 1 Game 1 against Tampa Bay. The Panthers’ alternate captain scored two goals and notched one assist. “You see him be able to step into a game and be impactful,” said teammate Nate Schmidt. Yet since then, Tkachuk has had a goal-scoring drought in the playoffs, with his fourth and final (so far) goal coming in Game 3 against Tampa.
While his impact is still undeniable, with 8 assists and 12 points, he has not been part of the Panthers’ recent goal-scoring frenzy. The defending champions have scored 18 goals in the last four games. Naturally, the media have been asking questions. However, the 27-year-old referenced none other than Alex Ovechkin to clarify his stance on scoring goals, hopefully for good.
“We’re up 2-0. I do not care how we get there,” said Matthew Tkachuk after Florida thrashed the Hurricanes 5-0 in Game 2. “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,” the Cat’s star added, saying he’s not hungry for goals like the NHL’s all-time goals leader, who broke Wayne Gretzky’s record this season.
Tkachuk was asked again if he cares if he scores.
“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.”
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) May 23, 2025
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