What Tkachuk has done in just give conference final appearance is pretty remarkable

There are some things in this world that just seem to work well together.

Peanut butter and jelly. Movies and popcorn. Ice and hockey.

It seems that Matthew Tkachuk and the conference finals also fit that mold.

Following Wednesday’s victory by the Florida Panthers over the New York Rangers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Tkachuk has now played five games in what the NHL calls “the round before the Stanley Cup Final.”

In those five games, Tkachuk has scored four goals, the most by any player in NHL history in the round before the Final (because this record dates back further than the current Stanley Cup Playoff format).

Additionally, in the only conference final outing Tkachuk hasn’t scored, he logged the primary assist on the game’s lone goal.

But wait, there’s more.

It’s not just about the historic element of what Tkachuk is doing.

He isn’t out there, scoring goals whenever it suits him all willy nilly.

All four of those goals have been crucial, clutch goals.

They’re all game-winners.

The first two, which game in Games 1 and 2 in Carolina last year, were scored during overtime.

We all remember the third, with 4.9 seconds on the clock during a tied Game 4 that lifted the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Final.

And then there was Wednesday against the Rangers. Tkachuk’s goal late in the first period was a resounding exclamation of a strong opening statement by the Panthers, who silenced what had been a fierce and raucous Madison Square Garden crowd.

“He's a true leader of this team,” said Panthers captain Sasha Barkov. “He does everything that he can, and (Game 1) was good example of that. He set the tone physically and made some plays and did whatever he does at his best. We just follow his lead.”

Where Tkachuk takes it from here is something we’ll have to wait and see, but he’ll have at least three more games in which to do it.

Game 2 between the Panthers and Rangers is set for Friday night from MSG.

Have your popcorn ready. 

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