[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Had to watch this on delay tonight...my thoughts???



I have to say, it seems like Tkachuk is taking a more prominent leadership role in terms of quotables. After game 1 he said "We can hang with these guys".

https://news.yahoo.com/hang-guys-mat...05b3ibeOKgD8Sk

Clearly, he meant it, and it seems to be true. They played them tough in the regular season, basically splitting the season series, and then they waltzed into their building tonight and found a way to win convincingly even though they were tied after 2 periods.

That's a big win. They say you're never in trouble until you lose on home ice. Welp, the President's Trophy winning Bruins have just lost on home ice and they are clearly feeling the pressure. Meanwhile the Panthers are playing with house money against the record breaking Bruins. It's a new season in the playoffs. Wipe the slate clean and let's get going!

This was him before Game 1:

"It's probably more spoiler at this point," Tkachuk said Monday before Game 1 of their Eastern Conference series. "I don't even know if 'underdog' is a right phrase for us right now, going against that talent and everything they've done this year over there. We have our hands full. We got to play very, very, very well -- if not perfect -- to win a game [in this series]."

The Bruins set NHL regular-season records for wins (65) and points (135) in winning the Presidents' Trophy for the league's best record.

"It's going to take pretty much a perfect effort to win one game in the series against everything they have over there, with the season they've had," said Tkachuk, who led the Panthers in scoring. "I think everybody knows they've had the best season in NHL history, so it's a great challenge for our team."

Pre Game 1: "Don't worry about it, Boston, you go this. You're the best team in history."
Post Game 2: "I mean... I did say best regular season team in history..."


Then you throw in stuff like this:

The Panthers were the first NHL club to host a Pride night back in 2013 and the vast majority of the roster embraced it. Matthew Tkachuk, who is in his first season with the team, was excited to be a part of the event this year given what it means for the LGBTQ2S+ community.

“For myself personally, obviously being out there and wearing the jerseys, and kind of enjoying and embracing a night like tonight — we only have so many of these nights throughout the season, whether it’s ‘Military Night’ or ‘Hockey Fights Cancer Night,’ or whatever,” the Tkachuk told reporters after the game.

“A night like tonight, for me, is really about including everybody. In my opinion, it’s by far the greatest game in the world, and everyone’s invited in my locker room and our locker room as an organization.”

Eric and Marc Staal decided not to participate in warmups citing "Christian beliefs" as the reason for their decision.

For all the (deserved) heat Sutter gets about roster and line decisions, to me his most egregious mistake was Tkachuk not getting the C.