The Florida Panthers may be coming off back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, but the current season hasn’t followed the same script. Florida sits third-last in the Atlantic Division and is five points out of a wild-card spot, leaving little margin for error as the schedule tightens.
How Did Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk Break Down His “No-No” Rule?
While the wins haven’t piled up, one thing hasn’t been missing: emotion. And Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk recently gave fans a glimpse into how he views on-ice confrontations, specifically, one line he refuses to cross during NHL fights.
Tkachuk was sidelined to start the season after undergoing surgery on Aug. 22, 2025, to repair a torn adductor and a sports hernia. He returned on Jan. 19 at Amerant Bank Arena against the San Jose Sharks and has played five games since then.
That game also delivered one of the most memorable moments of Florida’s season. With a little over 14 minutes left, Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stormed out of his crease after Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic jumped into a scrum along the boards.
The two goalies squared off, each picking up five-minute fighting majors plus two-minute penalties for leaving the crease. The arena exploded as fans chanted “Bobby! Bobby!” and roared again when Bobrovsky returned from a short trip to the locker room.
Speaking on his Wingmen’s podcast, Tkachuk broke down the moment and explained why it stood out so much to him.
“I honestly think that was the loudest regular-season building I’ve ever been part of,” Tkachuk said before walking listeners through the play that sparked everything.
According to Tkachuk, the chaos started when Mackie Samoskevich was tripped by Sharks’ Vincent Desharnais. Then the scrum started, and Nedeljkovic skated in and got involved.
“I think that goalie should just if you’re going to fight, fight the goalie, but don’t come in on the player and throw some blockers,” Tkachuk said. “I get it, he was like to trying to stick up for him, but that’s one of my no-no.”
Tkachuk made it clear the comment wasn’t meant as disrespect, praising Nedeljkovic as both a strong goalie and competitor. Still, in his eyes, goaltenders stepping into skater scrums crosses an unwritten rule.
When Bobrovsky responded, Tkachuk knew something special was coming.
“I just saw Bobby get the little heel toe going, and I’m like ‘okay,” Tkachuk said. “We’re down 3-1 in the game, it probably midway in the third, it’s not looking good that we’re win this game. Bobby did the greatest thing I’ve ever seen him.”
Tkachuk described Bobrovsky skating faster and faster before shedding his gear and heading straight for Nedeljkovic. “And right before he went at him, he gives him like, let’s go.” He added.
The Panthers didn’t rally to win that night, but the moment gave the team and the fanbase a jolt of energy. As Florida tries to claw back into the playoff picture, that edge and emotion could prove crucial.
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Tkachuk and the Panthers will look to build momentum when they take on the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.
