Many people were looking forward to a brother-against-brother face-off in the playoffs, but Matthew Tkachuk was not one of them. The Florida Panthers forward said he was grateful the current playoff matchups let him avoid facing the Ottawa Senators, captained by his brother, Brady Tkachuk, in the first round.
Matthew Tkachuk Discusses 4 Nations, His Upcoming Return From Injury
Brady has been one of the standout members, both on and off the ice, for the Senators. The brothers were also on the Team USA roster during February’s best-on-best 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
Matthew opened up about his experience playing alongside his brother for the first time in their professional careers. The pair were among the most productive performers for the US team during the international hockey tournament, helping them defeat Canada in the round-robin phase and reach the final.
“It was way more fun playing with him than it is against him, so I’m not necessarily looking forward to going up against him. He’s a beast. He will probably be the toughest guy in the league to play against in a playoff series. It would not be fun,” Matthew said during the “Up & Adams” podcast on Wednesday, April 16.
“I’ve seen what he’s been able to do playing with him on the big stage going back to 4 Nations. It’s a different beast. I’m definitely not going to poke the bear before there’s any chance to play him,” he added.
Matthew Tkachuk on potentially facing his brother, Brady Tkachuk, in the NHL playoffs.
“He’s a beast. He’ll be the toughest guy in the league to play against in the playoff series.”@heykayadams | @TKACHUKycheese_ pic.twitter.com/otNYb8yzfY
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) April 16, 2025
Brady Tkachuk Prepares for ‘Battle of Ontario’
On Tuesday, April 15, the Toronto Maple Leafs clinched the Atlantic Division title for the first time in their history. They will now face local rivals, the Senators, led by Brady, in yet another clash labeled the “Battle of Ontario.”
The upcoming series will be the fifth postseason meeting between the Maple Leafs and the Senators, and the first in over 20 years. Toronto is the bookmakers’ favorite in the clash, but the Senators have swept the season series against their Canadian rival.
Toronto captain Auston Matthews said he was looking forward to the clash.
“It’s been a long time. They’re a good, young team. They’re hungry. They’ve taken steps as well. It’s going to be great. It’s going to be fun. It’s good for hockey. It’s going to be intense,” Matthews said via NHL Trade Talk.
For Matthew, the Toronto-Ottawa match-up means he won’t have to face his brother anytime soon. The Panthers will face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 1 of the playoffs.