The Florida Panthers have done it, and a Tkachuk has finally won the Stanley Cup.
The Florida Panthers won the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final series against the Edmonton Oilers, and no team since the 1942 Detroit Red Wings had gone on to lose four straight after first winning the first three in a final series.
But the Oilers looked like a completely different team in Games 4, 5, and 6, and everyone agreed that the momentum had shifted in the Oilers’ favor.
But the Panthers, at home, played a great Game 7 and took an early lead in the first period. In the second period, Sam Reinhart scored to make it 2-1, which would be the game-winning goal.
The Panthers managed to hold out the lead, much thanks to some incredible goalkeeping from Sergei Bobrovsky, and the Florida Panthers have finally won their first-ever Stanley Cup.
But the Panthers weren’t the only first-time winners on Monday. Keith Tkachuk is an NHL legend but never won the Stanley Cup.
He was in the stands in Florida, and when he realized his son Matthew had won his first-ever Cup, he broke down in tears in the arena.
Keith was standing next to Brady Tkachuk, captain for the Ottawa Senators, and he just couldn’t stop smiling and celebrating in happiness for his brother.
Before the cameras panned out, Keith and Brady shared a hug, and that’s really what it’s all about.
When Matthew Tkachuk did his first interview after the game with ESPN, he struggled to find words.
”It’s not a dream anymore. It’s not a dream, it’s reality. I can’t believe it,” he said.
”I can’t believe how good this two years have been. I’m so thankful for this group of guys. It’s the best place, the best guys … it’s something really special here.”
