Matthew Tkachuk Keeps the Heat On - Even in Milan
Matthew Tkachuk doesn’t forget. And he certainly doesn’t let things slide - not in the Stanley Cup Final, and definitely not on Olympic ice. The Florida Panthers star brought a little NHL fire to the international stage on Sunday, taking a verbal jab at Leon Draisaitl during Team USA’s 5-1 win over Germany at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
With the Americans locking up the No. 2 seed heading into the knockout rounds, Tkachuk found time to do more than just dish out assists - though he did that too, notching two more to bring his Olympic total to five. But it was his chirp, caught on a hot mic in the third period, that really made waves.
As the two skated off after another on-ice tangle, Tkachuk turned to Draisaitl and fired off a line that lit up social media:
**"Always the bridesmaid, eh, Leon?
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride." **
That’s vintage Tkachuk - sharp, pointed, and personal. And if it felt like there was a little extra behind the comment, well, there probably was.
After all, it’s not just Olympic competition between these two. Tkachuk’s Panthers have taken down Draisaitl’s Oilers in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals.
That kind of history doesn’t fade, even when you’re wearing your country’s colors.
After the game, Tkachuk kept things diplomatic - at least on the record.
“Always a challenge,” he said when asked about facing Draisaitl, a rivalry that dates back to their days in the Battle of Alberta, when Tkachuk was still with Calgary.
“Our teams have some history. Always fun playing him. … Some guys, you’ve got to play harder than most physically.”
USA Rolling, Germany Fighting
With the win, Team USA moved to 3-0 in group play, securing the second seed heading into the quarterfinals. Canada earned the top spot, while Germany, now 1-2, will have to fight its way into the quarters with a must-win game Tuesday against No. 11 France.
Team USA now awaits the winner of Sweden vs. Latvia in the quarters on Wednesday. Both those squads feature Florida Panthers talent - Gus Forsling for Sweden, and Uvis Balinskis and Sandis Vilmanis for Latvia - so there’s a strong chance Tkachuk will be lining up against a few familiar faces next.
Panthers All Over the Ice in Milan
Florida’s fingerprints are all over this Olympic tournament. Seven of the Panthers’ NHL-high 10 players at the Games have already advanced to the quarterfinals. Here’s a quick look at how they’re performing:
- Matthew Tkachuk (USA): 3 GP, 0 goals, 5 assists - doing what he does best: driving play and getting under opponents’ skin.
- Sam Reinhart (Canada): 3 GP, 1 assist
- Sam Bennett (Canada): 3 GP, 1 assist
- Brad Marchand (Canada): 1 GP, 1 assist - Marchand missed 10 of the Panthers’ last 14 games before the Olympics and was scratched for Canada’s final two group games.
Head coach Jon Cooper says he’ll be back in the lineup for the quarterfinals.
- Eetu Luostarinen (Finland): 3 GP, 3 assists
- Niko Mikkola (Finland): 3 GP, 3 assists
- Anton Lundell (Finland): 2 GP, 1 goal
Meanwhile, Sasha Barkov remains sidelined with injury, and Seth Jones (USA) is also out. But the Panthers’ coaching and support staff are just as active in Milan: Bill Zito is serving as an assistant GM for Team USA, Jamie Kompon is behind the bench for Germany, and Tuomo Ruutu is helping guide Finland.
Looking Ahead: The Knockout Stage
Here’s how the rest of the men’s hockey bracket is shaping up:
Tuesday - Qualification Round:
- Germany (6) vs.
France (11) - 6:10 a.m. ET
- Switzerland (5) vs. Italy (12) - 6:10 a.m.
ET
- Czechia (8) vs.
Denmark (9) - 10:40 a.m. ET
- Sweden (7) vs. Latvia (10) - 3:10 p.m.
ET
Wednesday - Quarterfinals:
- Slovakia (3) vs.
Germany/France winner - 6:10 a.m. ET
- Canada (1) vs. Czechia/Denmark winner - 10:40 a.m.
ET (USA Network)
- Finland (4) vs.
Switzerland/Italy winner - 12:10 p.m. ET (USA)
- United States (2) vs. Sweden/Latvia winner - 3:10 p.m.
ET (NBC)
Friday - Semifinals:
- 10:40 a.m.
ET (USA)
- 3:10 p.m.
ET (NBC)
Saturday - Bronze Medal Game:
- 2:40 p.m. ET (USA)
Sunday - Gold Medal Game:
- 8:10 a.m. ET (NBC)
As we head into the business end of the tournament, the stakes are rising - and so is the intensity. If Sunday’s chirp from Tkachuk is any indication, he’s locked in and ready to bring that same edge that’s helped define his NHL career.
And if the path to gold runs through another showdown with Draisaitl and Germany? Well, you can bet Tkachuk will have something to say about it - on the scoreboard and, maybe, on the mic.