As anticipation builds for the Eastern Conference Finals between the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes, the drama has already started before the first puck even drops.

In a scene that perfectly captures the intensity and unpredictability of playoff hockey, Matthew Tkachuk once again found himself at the center of attention—this time, not for his on-ice heroics, but for his off-ice antics. With the NHL’s media setup in Raleigh placing reporters dangerously close to the Panthers’ workout area, Tkachuk seized the moment to make his presence felt, injecting some early gamesmanship into what promises to be a fiercely contested series.

His playful, yet disruptive behavior set the tone for what’s sure to be an electric matchup, as both teams look to gain any possible edge heading into Game 1. With stars like Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett also in the mix, the psychological battle is already underway, and fans can expect the fireworks to continue both on and off the ice as the series unfolds.

Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers.

Photo credit: Forbes

The NHL made a mistake with the way things were set up for media in Carolina, so now Matthew Tkachuk has hilariously made a scene ahead of a highly anticipated Game 1 on Tuesday night.

The Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes are gearing up for war in the Eastern Conference Finals, with Game 1 set to take place on Tuesday night in what should be an absolutely thrilling series.

Before things could even get started however, Matthew Tkachuk was up to his old antics of messing with the opposing teams, and this time, it was taking place during the ‘Canes media session.

According to reports, things were set up in Raleigh near the Panthers workout area, and Tkachuk, not being one to miss an opportunity to miss with the opposition was reportedly happy to take advantage.

With just a curtain to separate the two areas, Tkachuk reportedly began loudly throwing a ball against the wall that was right behind Jordan Staal and Taylor Hall who were trying to answer questions about the upcoming series.

Alongside Tkachuk in this Panthers lineup is the physical duo of Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett, who were all expected to play a key role in getting on top of Carolina in this series, and while both Staal and Hall handled it well, there was potentially some frustration growing.

Next time, it’s likely that the NHL won’t make the same mistake again by setting the media up right next to the Panthers workout area, and now, we will wait and see whether these mind games from Tkachuk will make their way onto the ice for a highly anticipated Game 1 on Tuesday night.