"He's a punk" "Goons on ice": Fans bash Matthew Tkachuk for landing multiple uppercuts on Connor McDavid after headlocking Oilers captain

Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk has a reputation for being a rough player. In their recent 8-1 loss in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, Tkachuk landed multiple uppercut punches on Oilers captain Connor McDavid, drawing widespread criticism from fans.

During the second period of the game, things got heated when Zach Hyman was hit from behind by Panthers’ Sam Bennett. McDavid stepped in to defend his teammate, but Matthew Tkachuk put him in a headlock and handed the Oilers cap several sneaky punches before the referees intervened.

The clip of the scrum has since been making rounds on the internet. Fans were quick to call out the Panthers’ alternate captain for his rough and unsportsmanlike conduct.

Following are some of the fan reactions from X:

“He’s a punk.”

"Goons on Ice!" Another user commented.

“That's why he's not liked by most fans. I can't stand him he's one of the biggest cowards to ever play this game,” commented one user.

“He always goes from behind. And anyone other than McDavid he can’t wait till ref gets in between. Talented yes, cheap shot artist all the way,” wrote another fan.

Some fans referred to ex-Oilers winger Zack Kassian, with whom Tkachuk has a history of altercations, hoping the athlete was there to exact revenge on the Panthers forward.

“Need Kassi back," a fan said.

“I hope he runs into Kassian in the parking lot!” Quipped another fan.

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Matthew Tkachuk admits Oilers ‘rush game’ cost Panthers the match

In his postgame interview after Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, Matthew Tkachuk labeled the Oilers' potent rush game as a decisive factor in his team’s defeat.

“They were flying,” Tkachuk said. “They were making really good plays off the rush. Yeah, that's probably their best part of their game all year is their rush game and bunch of rush goals tonight. And we just didn't, uh, didn't defend too well with the rush.”

When asked about what fueled the Edmonton Oilers' strong rush game, Matthew Tkachuk pointed out that the Florida Panthers' defense wasn't as coordinated as usual. He mentioned they didn't play together well as a unit, which allowed the Oilers to exploit gaps and use their speed effectively. In his own words:

“I think it was just more, you know, we weren't together as five as much as we were in previous games. And yeah, they were flying all over the ice. So, yeah, you got to give a ton of credit to them.

“They were making some crazy great plays. They looked awesome tonight and, you know, we didn't have an answer."

Despite this, the Panthers alternate captain expressed satisfaction that the team is leading the series 3-1 and will be returning to home ice. Looking ahead, he said they are now viewing the upcoming Game 5 as an opportunity to secure the title in front of their home crowd.