The Florida Panthers have set their sights in the Carolina Hurricanes as they meet in the Eastern Conference Final. However, Matthew Tkachuk might already be looking ahead based on his blunt two-word message to former teammate Anthony Stolarz during the handshake line after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round in the 2024-25 NHL season.
Tkachuk and the Panthers blew the Maple Leafs out of the water in Game 7, handing the organization in Toronto its eighth-straight loss in a winner-takes-all postseason matchup. The 6-1 blowout victory over the Leafs definitely served as a huge momentum boost for the Cats, who are now making their third straight appearance in the Eastern Conference Final.
The Hurricanes stand in the way between the Panthers and their third Stanley Cup Final appearance in as many NHL seasons—fourth in franchise history. The two juggernauts will meet once again at the gates of the grand final, in a rematch of the 2022-23 postseason when they clashed in the same stage.
Then, the Cats advanced in four games, but fell in the Cup Final to the Vegas Golden Knights in five meetings. This time around, Tkachuk and the Panthers already know what it takes to hoist Lord Stanley and will fight to do it all over again.
Anthony Stolarz #41 of the Toronto Maple Leafs gets set for play to resume against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 1st period in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on October 12, 2024.The Maple Leafs defeated the Penguins 4-2.
The Florida Panthers aren’t hiding their intentions, though. Tkachuk made them clear with a powerful two-word promise to Stolarz, who won the Cup with Florida last season, but fell to them in the second round with the Maple Leafs this year. During the handshake line after Game 7, Tkachuk put the NHL on notice, especially the Canes who will go up against the Cats next.
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“Go get another one,” Stolarz told Tkachuk as they saluted each other after a grueling series. “We will,” Tkachuk firmly promised, with a subtle warning to anybody who stands in Florida’s way (starts at 06:05).
No love in Raleigh
The series between the Hurricanes and Panthers will get underway on May 20 at p.m. EST in Raleigh, NC. Though hours away from puck drop, tempers flared already as Tkachuk made a non-verbal statement during the Hurricanes’ media availability.
“The Panthers aren’t pleased the NHL has set up the pre and postgame news conference area literally in their gym, so naturally Matthew Tkachuk started slamming the medicine ball against the wall the second the Jordan Staal/Taylor Hall presser starts,” insider Michael Russo reported on his X account.
Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers takes the ice against the Toronto Maple Leafs before Game Six of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena on May 16, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.
Tkachuk’s heroics vs Carolina
Tkachuk is certainly sending a message to Carolina ahead of a pivotal Game 1 in a barn where the Panthers’ star keeps fond memories. In the 2022-23 Eastern Conference Final, the Hurricanes held home-ice advantage as well, but Florida stormed into PNC Arena and stole both games.
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Each win came in overtime, with Tkachuk playing hero—netting the winner with less than a minute left in quadruple OT in Game 1, and striking again in the extra frame of Game 2.
To add insult to injury, Tkachuk would go on to score the series-clinching tally in Game 4 with less than 5 seconds left in regulation, a play that cemented his legacy as a legend in the Sunrise-based franchise.
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Coming off the series win over Toronto, where Brad Marchand was dubbed the Maple Leafs executioner, Tkachuk could be considered the Hurricane chaser, as he’s ran Carolina out of the playoffs almost single-handedly before. However, he must earn that title all over again when they meet this postseason.
