Matthew Tkachuk celebrates Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup win in an iconic way

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Jun 18, 2025, 16:30 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Florida Panthers secured their third consecutive Stanley Cup victory. Matthew Tkachuk, despite injuries, played a key role. He celebrated in the locker room with champagne and cigars. A video of Tkachuk drinking from the Stanley Cup went viral. Tkachuk's performance in the finals was crucial for the team's win. He had 4 goals and 3 assists.

Matthew Tkachuk celebrates Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup win in an iconic way (Image Source: NHL via X)

The Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup for the 3rd consecutive time, and there’s no one happier than Matthew Tkachuk, the right wing of the Panthers. The after-party started way back in the locker room with champagne and cigars, and Tkachuk was seen leading it from the front. After suffering from major injuries during the 4 Nations face-off, there were slim chances of the MVP returning for the Stanley Cup. Yet, he arrived and helped the Panthers lift the trophy, followed by an amazing after-party show.

Matthew Tkachuk’s locker room celebration goes viral

The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers with a 5-1 score in the final, taking the series to a 4-2 status. Soon after the Panthers lifted the trophy, the celebration shifted towards the locker room where all the players had their chance of celebrating with the Stanley Cup. However, it was Tkachuk’s iconic celebratory moment that stole the spotlight.A recent video surfaced all over the Internet showing the Panthers’ right wing in the middle of an iconic celebratory moment. The video showed the star player drinking champagne directly from the Stanley Cup and then smoking a cigar, which went viral for all the right reasons.

The star player had a bad start to the year with severe injuries making it difficult for him to appear in the Stanley Cup.

Tkachuk played in the 4 Nations face-off, representing Team USA, where he suffered some severe injuries which included a torn abductor muscle and hernia. Despite the severity of his injuries, Tkachuk played through the Stanley Cup, helping the Panthers lift the trophy.The MVP helped tie the score with Oilers, and made a total of 15 assists and eight goals throughout the season. During the finals series, Tkachuk made a total of 4 goals and 3 assists, which helped maintain the momentum of the team.

Though it is not yet revealed what kind of recovery the Panthers’ star player went through during the off-season, he was back with fire in his stick. Tkachuk became a part of the Panthers after being traded by the Calgary Flames in July 2022, and proved to be a lucky charm for the Florida team.Also Read: BREAKING: Matthew Knies contract talks get bold Tkachuk comparison from NHL expert Craig Button

Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik’s inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article