Matthew Tkachuk fires warning shot at Connor McDavid about Stanley Cup Final between Panthers and Oilers

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are gearing up for a pivotal Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. Ahead of what could be the last game of the 2024-25 NHL season, Matthew Tkachuk dropped a cold-blooded warning to Connor McDavid.

The Stanley Cup Final between the Oilers and Panthers has been as fierce as expected for a rematch. Now, the Panthers are one win away from their second Stanley Cup in franchise history—in back-to-back fashion and both against the Oilers.

McDavid and the Oilers will vie to force a Game 7, dragging the Panthers back to Edmonton. They had some success escaping elimination in last year’s Final, but ultimately fell short of the Cup. The Oilers seem to have learned the lesson, though they must prove it when they walk into Amerant Bank Arena next.

The Oilers have their backs against the wall, the Panthers are ready to pounce, but the Canadian side is no easy prey to secure. However, Tkachuk made sure to remind McDavid of something: the Cats in Sunrise are as hungry as their opponents—if not more.

Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers looks on against the Dallas Stars during the third period in Game Three of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 25, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta.

“It’s going to be a tough test. [McDavid’s] desperate to win a Cup. So are we,” Matthew Tkachuk told the media during his press conference on Monday. “We’ve gone through so many ups-and-downs. It’s been a grueling year. We worked so hard for this. So has him and the rest of the Oilers.”

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Shutting McDavid down—ish

McDavid has only scored one goal through five games in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, and it came during the third period of Game 5 with the Oilers down 3-0. Based on that, the Panthers cannot feel too bad about their job in neutralizing the best player in the world.

However, McDavid’s influence often goes far beyond the scoresheet. When he’s not scoring, he’s usually assisting—and even when he’s held pointless, his presence is felt. McDavid draws penalties with ease and wears down opponents with his unmatched speed and skill. Ultimately, he creates opportunities for his teammates, even while he’s on the bench.

Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers looks on against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period in Game Six of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Because of all those factors, Tkachuk and the Panthers must sleep with an eye open going into Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. McDavid can activate at any given moment, with no warning, and momentum could tilt decisively towards Edmonton’s side.

“He’s obviously a talent like nobody else in the league,” Tkachuk admitted. “It’s so hard to shut him down, I don’t think you can shut him down. You can just try to limit [him] as much as you can. I hope [our guys] are ready for the challenge, because it’s going to be a big test for us. We’re all ready for it.”

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Not putting too much thought into it

McDavid can sense the pressure as he chases his first Stanley Cup of his career, which has been hard to come by so far. While fans in Edmonton are anxious about hoisting the franchise’s sixth Stanley Cup, the captain voiced a very sincere confession.

“I don’t think about it that way,” McDavid said about the extra pressure on chasing his first Cup while being the best player in the NHL. “If you think about it that way you’d be pretty crippled in terms of how you play and prepare. It’s a big game, everybody knows that. I know that.

“The Cup will be in the building, those games are what you dream of. Obviously, it’s not [in the building] for us. But, anytime the Cup is in the building and you’re playing it’s a good time.”