Tkachuk on Stanley Cup fight: ‘Get hit in the face’ as Panthers secure victory

Intense Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final Leads to Brawls

Matthew Tkachuk is no stranger to on-ice confrontations. In one of the most significant hockey matches in recent years, he squared off against Team Canada during the 4 Nations competition as part of Team USA. Recently, late Monday night, he found himself amidst chaos again—this time in a heated encounter involving nearly all players on the ice during the Florida Panthers versus Edmonton Oilers showdown.

During Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, which the Panthers won decisively 6-1, the atmosphere shifted drastically as tensions flared. With this victory, Florida took a 2-1 lead in the series.

Tkachuk, having experienced similar situations before, sensed that things might escalate. “We talked about it—if we have to throw a punch, we throw a punch. If we need to cross-check, we cross-check,” he mentioned, clearly prepared for the potentially rougher play. At one point, he even landed a punch on Jake Walman.

With the score favoring Florida 5-1, the intensity heightened. Edmonton’s Trent Federic reacted by delivering a hit to Sam Bennett. This situation was complicated, as Bennett previously faced off against Tkachuk’s brother in that earlier 4 Nations game.

That initial fight set off a chain reaction, with players seeking partners to battle. The referee allowed the brawls to unfold as both teams engaged in a series of skirmishes. Darnell Nurse from the Oilers and Jonah Gajovic from the Panthers were locked in a fierce struggle, throwing punches at each other.

Following the fights, several players—including Nurse, Gajovic, Bennett, and Federic—were ejected for the remainder of the game. Yet as the clock continued to tick down, tensions lingered. Evander Kane from the Oilers was ejected after hitting Carter Verhaege while he was down.

As time ran out, the hostilities didn’t wane. Edmonton’s Corey Perry was seen exchanging words with multiple Panther players, while frustrated fans began tossing items onto the ice.