“Last game I’m watching this series”: Matthew Tkachuk’s brother Brady quips warning to Panthers star before Game 4

Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk is one win away from hoisting his first Stanley Cup. The win would deliver the franchise’s first championship in more than three decades of existence.

The possibility of clinching the victory in game 4 has prompted a prominent member of the Tkachuk family, Matthew’s brother Brady, to comment on the potential Cup-clinching.

Here’s what the captain of the Ottawa Senators had to say on Sportsnet during the first intermission broadcast:

"It’s a childhood dream that both Matt and I have had, and for him to have an opportunity to do it tonight, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. And, I mean, I support my brother."

Brady added:

"I really hope it’s tonight."

While the hope is for the Panthers to close out the series in game 4, analyst Elliotte Friedman posed an interesting question:

"I know you’re only thinking about one thing: A win tonight. But, if this series extends, will you follow all the way from here on in?"

To which Brady quipped:

"I told him (Matthew Tkachuk) yesterday I was traveling up for the long day, I said, ‘This is the last hockey game I’m watching this series.’ I guess we’ll have to wait and see, but I have all my faith and belief in him."

Brady is not the only one who’s got their belief in Matthew Tkachuk. The Panthers’ fan base has faith in Tkachuk’s ability to help the Panthers close out the series in game 4.

Matthew Tkachuk’s defense-first mindset

Prior to game 4, Matthew Tkachuk spoke to the media, addressing his priorities heading into one of the most crucial games of the year. When asked about his mindset, Tkachuk said:

"It’s just a very committed five-man effort out there against those guys. They’re very talented players, and you have to be against those guys if you want to have success. But you know, as many offensive guys as we have on the team, we’re a defense-first team, defense-minded first team."

That defense-first attitude has gotten the Panthers to the verge of winning their first Stanley Cup. As such, Tkachuk and his teammates don’t expect to deviate from their plan. Tkachuk would go on to state:

"And that’s against whoever is on the ice. So, I just think it’s a big thing for our team to do it collectively as five guys, especially when you have talented guys out there. So, just got to do it again tomorrow."

By the end of the final horn on Saturday, the hockey world will know if Matthew Tkachuk lifts the Cup or if the Oilers live to fight another day.