Before Matthew Tkachuk and his fiery Panthers charge into the Eastern Conference Final, we gotta give some well-earned flowers to the other side of the rink. Carolina’s own silent storm, Jaccob Slavin. Way back in February, the NHL dropped its first-ever 4 Nations Face-Off, and it was electric. Canada edged out the USA in a nail-biting OT win, but while the spotlight danced around the flashy scorers, Slavin straight-up stole the show. Dude was dismantling plays, locking up superstars like McDavid and Crosby like it was light work. He averaged more than 23 minutes a game, barely let a puck breathe near the net, and turned every game into a highlight reel of stick wizardry and silent stops.

His coach, Rod Brind’Amour, said it best: “Is defending a goal as important? We know it is.” Even players like Auston Matthews and Mikko Rantanen were practically speechless about Slavin’s hockey IQ, saying he’s got the best stick work in the league. The kind of defender who doesn’t need flash to make noise. And now, days away from the Panthers-Hurricanes rematch, Matthew Tkachuk couldn’t help but tip his hat. Having teamed up with Slavin during the 4 Nations, he got a front-row seat to the calm chaos that the Canes’ defender brings every night.

When asked if he needed that Four Nations run to really grasp how elite Jaccob Slavin is, Matthew Tkachuk didn’t beat around the bush. “Yeah, you seem to get it,” he said, nodding in agreement. “Each game you play, you see something different.” Sure, he’d played against Slavin during the playoffs a couple of years back, and yeah, he’d see him occasionally while in the West, but it wasn’t until they were on the same side, repping Team USA, that the full picture clicked. “At that Four Nations, I really saw how unbelievable a player he is,” Tkachuk said. “Defensively, his stick, blocking shots, the little plays he’d make… he got every shot through.” The kind of quiet mastery you don’t really notice until you’re skating right beside it.

He even put Slavin in a league of his own, well, almost. “He reminds me a lot, like him and Forzy (Gustav Forsling), I feel like are very, very similar players. Probably the two best in the league at what they do,” Tkachuk added. It was the “little stuff that people don’t get credit for” that blew him away. The silent shutdowns, the smart clears, the ability to make it all look effortless while neutralizing some of the most dangerous forwards in the world. “You might look at the top point-getters in the league for D, get all the credit… but I mean, he’s right up there for the best in the world.” And from Tkachuk’s tone? That wasn’t just a teammate hyping someone up; that was a guy genuinely impressed by a low-key legend finally getting his shine.

And well, Matthew Tkachuk and co. are back at it again; third straight trip to the conference final and yep, once again they’re staring down the Canes. Florida’s rolling in with that big dog energy after torching the Leafs in a spicy Game 7 blowout, and now it’s time to dance with Slavin and crew. The last time these two squads clashed, Florida swept ’em clean in 2023, kept Carolina stuck at six goals on 174 shots, yeah, that’s wild. But this ain’t a replay, this is round two, and the Canes are fresher than ever after a chilling Thursday.

Carolina’s been sitting tight, plotting revenge and dreaming about flipping the script. They didn’t get their shot last season, but now? Oh, it’s personal. “It’s definitely in the back of your mind,” Staal said, and Coach Brind’Amour knows what’s up: “We know we’re playing the Stanley Cup champs… they got better.” The Canes’ penalty kill’s been nasty, and their power play? Even spicier. But as Staal puts it, “Once the game gets going, it’s who does it better.” Tuesday’s gonna be a heater, and Matthew Tkachuk even reveals his feelings to play against this team.

Matthew Tkachuk enjoys playing against the Canes!

Tkachuk kept it real when the mics came out in Raleigh, and you could feel the buzz in the air! The stakes are high, the vibes are spicy, and that 2023 sweep? Yeah, it’s in the rearview, but not forgotten. Tkachuk didn’t sugarcoat it when asked about the matchup: “I don’t think really anybody enjoys playing Carolina.” That team doesn’t give you an inch. They’re gritty, they’re relentless, and they’ll make you work for every single pass, shot, or breath of space.

He did admit, though, there’s a little flicker of good memories from the last time they rolled through Raleigh, but don’t get it twisted: “It’s all back to zeroes now. It’s a new year, new series.” Nothing from the past counts anymore, not when Lord Stanley is calling again. And Tkachuk? He’s got that hockey IQ turned all the way up. “I personally thought Carolina was going to beat the Rangers last year,” he said, which just shows the respect runs deep. If the Canes had made it through, it could’ve been three straight years of this playoff tug-of-war.

He gave flowers where they were due, too, pointing out how both squads have been wrecking shop in the East for years. “They’re a great team, and it’s going to make for another great showdown.” This isn’t just about who skates faster or hits harder; this is legacy stuff. Tkachuk even gave a nod to how long the Canes have been in the mix: “Even before I got here, Carolina has been knocking at the door. I feel like they’ve been in and around this for almost like 10 years now.” So yeah, this ain’t just another series, it’s a battle between two playoff-built beasts, each hungry for another shot at the crown.