Matthew Tkachuk's Mixed Emotions Toward Edmonton Oilers
Florida Panthers star forward Matthew Tkachuk has opened up about his complicated relationship with the Edmonton Oilers, describing a blend of respect, dislike, and cherished memories from their recent playoff clashes. Despite the Oilers likely not sharing his sentiments, Tkachuk admits to holding a special place in his heart for Edmonton, where he has experienced some of his career's most significant moments.
Warm Memories in a Hostile Arena
"We were on the elevator going up to the room with eight guys who've all been here the last two years," Tkachuk recalled, referencing his Panthers teammates. "We were all talking about how great of a feeling it was last year after winning that Game 5 here. It was probably one of the best feelings we've ever had after a game, knowing that we had a chance to win a Cup on home soil."
The two-time Stanley Cup champion emphasized that Edmonton holds nothing but positive recollections for him, particularly highlighting Brad Marchand's overtime winner and the pivotal Game 5 victory. For Tkachuk, the city has become a second home, with estimates suggesting he and former Calgary Flame Sam Bennett have played more games in Edmonton than any other non-Oiler player in the league.
A Rivalry Forged in Playoff Fire
"We've played so many games here with the pandemic playoff bubble, playing in Calgary, an Oilers-Flames playoff series there, and then two playoff series here. It's been a lot," Tkachuk explained. However, his affection for the city does not extend to the Oilers themselves. Even as the Panthers face a challenging season marred by injuries and a likely playoff miss, matches against Edmonton still ignite competitive fire.
"It's hard not to get up for this one," Tkachuk stated, noting that his feelings toward Connor McDavid and the Oilers are a mix of respect and dislike. "There is a very big respect for each other going to the Cup Finals the last two years. But whenever that happens, it doesn't matter who you play in a playoff series, there is going to be dislike. And when you play a team two years in a row, it doesn't matter what round it's in, the dislike just seems to ramp up."
Mutual Respect Amidst Intense Competition
Tkachuk tipped his hat to the Oilers, acknowledging their status as a top rival due to the magnitude of their recent encounters. "They've probably become our No. 1 rival just because of the magnitude of the games and where we've played them and the intensity of the last two playoffs. Great team over there, some incredible players and I'm sure they're going to be right back there this year."
On the Oilers' side, head coach Kris Knoblauch echoed the sentiment of respect and dislike but shifted focus to the current playoff race. "The intensity right now is for making the playoffs," Knoblauch said. "We have a lot of teams in the Pacific division that we want to either catch or teams below us. That's where our focus is, winning hockey games so that we can get to the playoffs and hopefully have another playoff run."
Knoblauch added, "It doesn't matter who the opposition is right now, the games are so important we need to win as many as possible. Yes, it's a team that we saw in the Stanley Cup Final two years in a row but right now it's so important to look at the standings." This perspective underscores the ongoing rivalry while highlighting the Oilers' immediate priorities in a tight postseason chase.
