Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final delivered everything expected from a high-stakes NHL showdown. The ice was packed with drama, tempers flared, and tensions boiled over—even after the final horn—when Connor McDavid’s teammate, Evander Kane, took a sharp jab at Matthew Tkachuk.

Wherever there’s controversy in the NHL, Tkachuk usually isn’t far behind—and the opening game of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final was no exception. However, the Panthers star couldn’t guide his team to victory, he did record an assist, but overall he put on an inconsistent showing.

Although Tkachuk had a relatively quiet outing—playing a minimal role in the final score and going largely unnoticed on the ice—Kane and the Oilers didn’t miss the chance to rub salt in the Panthers star’s wounds with a pointed jab after the ga

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