The collision between Matthew Tkachuk and Sidney Crosby quickly became one of the most talked-about moments from the Florida Panthers’ 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. What looked like a routine attempt to deliver a late-game hit instead turned into a viral clip, and, by Tkachuk’s own admission, a lesson in humility.
Matthew Tkachuk Opens Up About Collision With Sidney Crosby
The play unfolded along the boards in the Panthers’ defensive zone. Crosby chased down a loose puck as Tkachuk stepped in, seemingly looking to send a message. Instead, Crosby absorbed the contact with ease, held his ground, and Tkachuk bounced off and tumbled to the ice.
The reaction from the crowd was immediate, and the clip quickly made the rounds on social media. It wasn’t just the fall; it was how effortlessly Crosby stood firm that caught everyone’s attention.
Speaking on the latest episode of his ‘Wingmen’ podcast, Tkachuk didn’t shy away from the moment. In fact, he leaned into it with surprising honesty. “I know what you’re gonna ask me, you’re gonna ask me about mine and Crosby’s little collision where I went flying,” Tkachuk said.
“I saw him going to the corner. We’re down so late in the game, I’m like, I’m not gonna take out my frustration on him… but definitely went in to go hit him. I bounced off. He is so strong. Right in that moment, I got back to the bench, I’m like holy s**t, Matthew, you gotta work out very hard this summer, like you have a long way to go.”
The candid response only added to the moment.
The viral moment came during what has been a difficult stretch for Florida. The Panthers, who captured back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025, have since been eliminated from playoff contention.
This marks the first time since the 2006-07 Carolina Hurricanes that a defending champion has failed to make the postseason the following year, ending the Panthers’ dreams of a “three-peat.”
The grind of three deep postseason runs on the bounce appears to have taken a toll on the roster.
Injuries have piled up late in the season. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad, forward Sam Reinhart, Evan Rodrigues, and Dmitry Kulikov are all sidelined, while captain Aleksander Barkov is also out with injury, leaving the lineup heavily depleted.
For now, the Panthers will look to regroup as they prepare for their next matchup against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.
