Latest news with #MatthewTkachuk
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Matthew Tkachuk reflects on Panthers and Connor McDavid's Oilers battle for NHL supremacy ahead of Stanley Cup Final
The NHL's Stanley Cup Final is set for a fiery rematch in 2025, pitting the Florida Panthers against the Edmonton Oilers, the very same teams that clashed in last season's nail-biting seven-game thriller. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But this isn't just a repeat; it's a battleground of narratives, legacies, and a deeper clash of hockey philosophies that could redefine the sport's elite for years to come. Panthers vs. Oilers : A rivalry that divides the Hockey world Connor McDavid on facing Panthers: 'They're a special group, we're a special group' | NHL on ESPN Few matchups in recent NHL history have stirred as much controversy and debate as these two franchises. Florida's Matthew Tkachuk, fresh off last season's championship triumph, is chasing back-to-back glory, a feat that cements his status among hockey's modern greats. Meanwhile, Edmonton's Connor McDavid, arguably the sport's most electrifying talent, seeks to silence critics and prove his playoff mettle once and for all. But the stakes go far beyond individual glory. The Panthers' postseason journey has been nothing short of dominant, an emphatic statement against powerhouses like the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs. Their resilience, especially in overcoming the Maple Leafs in a gritty comeback, has raised questions about whether Florida has finally shed its 'underdog' label for good. On the other side, the Oilers have bulldozed through formidable opponents, including the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars. McDavid's playoff performance is historic, joining an exclusive club with 20-plus points in four consecutive postseasons. Yet, critics argue his team's success remains too reliant on star power, questioning whether Edmonton's supporting cast can shoulder the pressure in the final moments. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Tkachuk's candid remarks ahead of the series add fuel to the fire. By boldly declaring that these two teams are 'the best in the league,' he indirectly challenges the rest of the NHL's relevance. His comment, 'If you want to win in this league right now, you've got to go through us or Edmonton,' is both a warning and a boast and it leaves fans and analysts divided. Is this a confident truth or hubris from two teams whose playoff dominance may overshadow emerging challengers? Moreover, the rarity of a finals rematch in professional sports sparks its own debate. While some see it as a testament to consistent excellence, others worry about stagnation and the lack of fresh competition at hockey's highest level. Will this series be a captivating showdown or a repetitive echo of last year's outcome? Also Read: As the puck drops, the 2025 Stanley Cup Final promises more than just a battle for the trophy. It's a clash of legacies, a test of endurance, and a debate over who truly defines modern NHL greatness.
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Oilers Impressing Matthew Tkachuk With 'Best Hockey Of The Year'
Matthew Tkachuk vs Stuart Skinner (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images) EDMONTON – 'We've got our hands full.' Matthew Tkachuk knows what the Edmonton Oilers – and by extension, Connor McDavid – are all about. Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. In preparation for the upcoming Stanley Cup Final series between the Oilers and Florida Panthers, Tkachuk made an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. Advertisement 'I'm pretty familiar with them from my time in Calgary,' Tkachuk revealed to McAfee. 'Seeing those players grow, playing against McDavid a ton.' 'When you are playing against the best player in the world, he's going to give you a challenge each and every night.' Trending Oilers Stories 'I F------ Love Bob': Troy Stecher's Unhinged In-Game Interview 'I F------ Love Bob': Troy Stecher's Unhinged In-Game Interview EDMONTON – 'We obviously have the two best players in the world…but sometimes, less is more.' EXCLUSIVE: Mark Messier On Oilers, Budweiser, His Future & More If Oilers Win Tonight, Here's When They Play Next Oilers Secretive Of New Victory Song, "Pink Pony Club" Advertisement Oilers 2025 Stanley Cup Final Schedule & 3 Bold Predictions Oilers Had Matthew Tkachuk Convinced They Were Drafting Him Oilers Had Matthew Tkachuk Convinced They Were Drafting Him EDMONTON – There are plenty of fish that get away. Tkachuk has certainly played against McDavid a lot. He was drafted the year after the current Oilers' captain by the Oilers' bitter rivals to the south, the Calgary Flames. Tkachuk has seen different iterations of this Oilers team. He's seen the highs and lows. He's also taken notice of how things have gone for them this season. He also believes that their defensive game hasn't been taken seriously. 'They are a deep team,' Tkachuk complimented. 'They play really hard at both ends of the ice. Their goalie is playing incredible right now. I think the thing that's underrated with them is their defense.' 'He's Been Phenomenal': Oilers Show Love To Stuart Skinner 'He's Been Phenomenal': Oilers Show Love To Stuart Skinner EDMONTON – 'You're only human. Everybody goes through struggles.' Advertisement 'They make it hard to get to the net, they block a lot of shots, all the stuff you've gotta do to have a successful team.' Things are coming together at the right time for the Oilers. Mattias Ekholm, Evander Kane, Trent Frederic, John Klingberg, and Jake Walman have all hopped onto the ice after injuries prevented them from playing at the end of the season. Losing the first two games of the playoffs was more about team chemistry and different players finding their legs than anything else. Since then, the team has been red hot. Tkachuk has taken stock of that and has been impressed by the Oilers in that regard. Advertisement 'They started the playoffs down two games to LA and since then they've been 12-2,' Tkachuk said. '12-2 is incredible in the regular season, that's almost unheard of in the playoffs.' 'They're playing the best hockey of the year…for them. It's going to be a battle for us.' Wednesday can't come soon enough. Bring on the battle. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NHL Reveals Oilers-Panthers 2025 Stanley Cup Final Schedule, Dates, Times
NHL Reveals Oilers-Panthers 2025 Stanley Cup Final Schedule, Dates, Times originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Edmonton Oilers are returning to the Stanley Cup Final after eliminating the Dallas Stars in five games, setting the stage for a rematch against the reigning champions Florida Panthers. Advertisement The NHL announced the full schedule for the best-of-seven series on Thursday night following Edmonton's 6-3 win in Game 5. Florida and Edmonton will begin the Final on Wednesday, June 4, at Rogers Place in Canada. It's the first time two teams have met in back-to-back finals since the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008 and 2009. The Panthers reached their third consecutive Final after beating the Carolina Hurricanes in five games. Florida defeated Tampa Bay and Toronto before the conference finals, while Edmonton beat Los Angeles and Vegas. Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk said Florida is far more prepared now than even before. Advertisement "Whoever we play, we'll be very prepared for them," Tkachuk said after eliminating Carolina. "It's not our first rodeo with this." Oilers' Leon Draisaitl, meanwhile, said Edmonton will welcome the chance for redemption. "We know what they're about. We played them seven times," Draisaitl said. "They're a good team. We're a really good team as well. Obviously, it's nice to get a shot at getting some revenge, but we're a long way from that." Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) before the game against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Chenoy-Imagn Images The full series schedule is as follows, with the Oilers holding home-ice advantage for the series, contrary to what happened last season when the Panthers enjoyed that advantage. Advertisement Game 1: Panthers at Oilers, Wednesday, June 4, 8 p.m. ET Game 2: Panthers at Oilers, Friday, June 6, 8 p.m. ET Game 3: Oilers at Panthers, Monday, June 9, 8 p.m. ET Game 4: Oilers at Panthers, Thursday, June 12, 8 p.m. ET * Game 5: Panthers at Oilers, Saturday, June 14, 8 p.m. ET * Game 6: Oilers at Panthers, Tuesday, June 17, 8 p.m. ET * Game 7: Panthers at Oilers, Friday, June 20, 8 p.m. ET (*if necessary) Related: Leon Draisaitl Names 'Best Player' in Oilers-Stars Series Without Hesitation Related: Panthers Expect Injured Forward Back for Stanley Cup Final This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Matthew Tkachuk Sends Clear Message About Oilers-Panthers Stanley Cup Final
Matthew Tkachuk Sends Clear Message About Oilers-Panthers Stanley Cup Final originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Stanley Cup Final is back, and so are the title contenders. For the first time since 2009, the NHL will see a championship rematch, as the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers prepare to square off for a second straight year. Advertisement In the eyes of Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk, the repetition isn't a coincidence, but rather a statement of dominance. Florida eliminated the Carolina Hurricanes in five games to punch its third straight ticket to the Final. Edmonton, meanwhile, responded by dispatching the Dallas Stars in five games of their own. Each franchise has applied a few touches to their roster since last June, but for Tkachuk, what hasn't changed is the gap they've created from the rest of the league. "I think that it's the two best teams in the league, and, to be honest, I think it's pretty clear that we're the two best," Tkachuk said. "It's going to make for an incredible final." Advertisement The Panthers won last year's series in seven games. Florida is returning to the finals with added experience and new pieces like forward Brad Marchand and defenseman Seth Jones. The Oilers, meanwhile, have built a more balanced attack around superstar forward Connor McDavid and a stifling defense corps that just welcomed back Mattias Ekholm during the finals. Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) looks on after scoring against the Ottawa Senators during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Tkachuk acknowledged how dangerous Edmonton has looked this postseason. "12–2 is incredible in the regular season—it's almost unheard of in the playoffs," Tkachuk said. "They're playing the best hockey of the year so far for them." Tkachuk's message, however, clearly extended beyond just the Panthers and Florida's opponent, but rather targeted the other 30 NHL opponents already in offseason mode. Advertisement "Not very often do you see a rematch in pro sports in the finals," Tkachuk said. "We've got our hands full, but the other 30 teams should probably take notice. "If you want to win in this league right now, you've got to go through us or Edmonton." Related: NHL Reveals Oilers-Panthers 2025 Stanley Cup Final Schedule, Dates, Times Related: Panthers Expect Injured Forward Back for Stanley Cup Final This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ticket prices for Stanley Cup Final start high, keep going up
The 2026 Stanley Cup Final is just a few short days away from beginning. It features a rematch of last year's Final, a seven-game epic between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers. Back then, it was the Panthers who came out on top. Advertisement Do the Cats have what it takes to pull off the rare back-to-back win, or will Edmonton's hunger and drive be enough to push them over the top this time? The drama and intrigue surrounding the sequel series has hockey fans amped up and excited to see how the matchup between two powerhouse teams plays out. Evidence of that excitement can be seen in the ticket prices for the Final games so far. Looking on the secondary market at Stubhub, THN Florida checked the lowest prices for each of the seven games. Interestingly, the tickets get more expensive the deeper we get into the series. Either way, even if you want to go to an early game, it's going to cost a pretty penny. Advertisement For the games in South Florida, here is how the prices are looking as of Saturday morning: Game 3: $593 Game 4: $596 Game 6: $957 As for the games up in Edmonton, here's how those prices look: Game 1: $532 Game 2: $695 Game 5: $1,013 Game 7: $1,394 Are you planning to head to any of the Stanley Cup Final games over the next couple weeks? Let us know in the comments below! LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA The Hockey Show: Talking Stanley Cup Final rematch, Florida Panthers roots with Bob Wischusen Examining how rare Stanley Cup Final rematches are as Panthers, Oilers prepare for sequel series Advertisement 3 Things Panthers Need To Beat Oilers & Win Stanley Cup Again Matthew Tkachuk Boldly Predicted This To Connor McDavid Last Year Schedule set for 2025 Stanley Cup Final rematch between Panthers and Oilers Photo caption: Jun 24, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers fans celebrate during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers in game seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
