There have been 120 minutes played in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. Matthew Tkachuk has only be available for only 84 of them — and based on his performance so far, even that seems generous.
Vegas has jumped out to a 2-0 series lead, winning in convincing fashion at home in the desert. The Panthers have tried to get under the Golden Knights’ skin, but have been unsuccessful to this point.
In turn, their physical style has only backfired, handing Vegas plenty of opportunities to cash in on the power play — with 11 opportunities through two games.
Now, the injuries and penalty minutes are piling up with Florida searching for answers as the series shifts back to South Florida.
MORE: Jonathan Marchessault stays hot as Golden Knights cruise to Game 2 win over Panthers
To win this series, the Panthers need Tkachuk to spend more time on the ice— not watching Florida on television like the rest of us. And they’ll also have to hope that what happened in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
The Sporting News looks at where the Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk ranks in the history books when it comes to the most penalty minutes in a Stanley Cup Final series.
Most penalty minutes in a Stanley Cup Final series
Only two games are in the books so far, but Tkachuk is making his own bid for history — already cracking the top 10 list of most penalty minutes in a Stanley Cup Final series.
As it stands, he’s already captured the lead for the most since 1986. Now it’s just about trying to catch Mel Bridgman’s record that he set with the Flyers against the Islanders in 1979-80.
Below is the full list of penalty minute leaders, per QuantHockey.com.
| Rank | Player (Team) | Season | Games | Penalty Minutes |
| 1 | Mel Bridgman (PHI) | 1979-80 | 6 | 53 |
| 2 | Chris Nilan (MTL) | 1985-86 | 3 | 49 |
| 3 | Tim Hunter (CGY) | 1985-85 | 5 | 43 |
| 4 | Kevin McClelland (EDM) | 1984-85 | 5 | 41 |
| Wayne Cashman (BOS) | 1973-74 | 6 | 41 | |
| Jimmy Orlando (DET) | 1941-42 | 7 | 41 | |
| 7 | Dave Schultz (PHI) | 1973-74 | 6 | 38 |
| 8 | Jim Peplinski (CGY) | 1985-86 | 5 | 37 |
| 9 | Eddie Gerard (OTT) | 1920-21 | 5 | 36 |
| Keith Magnuson (CHI) | 1970-71 | 7 | 36 | |
| Matthew Tkachuk (FLA) | 2022-23 | 2 | 36 |
MORE: NHL misconduct penalty, explained: What to know about one of the more uncommon infractions in hockey
Matthew Tkachuk misconducts
Through the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final, Tkachuk has been called for three minor penalties and three misconducts — two of them coming in the third period, ending his night.
Here is every misconduct Tkachuk has been given during the series:
Game 1, third period
The first 10-minute penalty handed out to Tkachuk came in the third period of Game 1 after he was caught punching Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague after the play was over.
Tkachuk getting some shots in 👀
🎥 @BleacherReport #StanleyCupFinal
pic.twitter.com/3v4v6Infrb
— Bally Sports (@BallySports) June 4, 2023
Game 2, second period
The second Tkachuk misconduct of the series, and first of Game 2, came at the end of the second period after his big hit on Jack Eichel. The penalty was given for the extracurriculars that happened after the hit, not because of it.
TKACHUK WITH A MAJOR HIT ON EICHEL 👀 pic.twitter.com/RF6vSF8WNG
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 6, 2023
Tkachuk defended his hit after the game while talking to reporters.
“They might have thought that game was a little bit out of reach maybe in the second period, but we certainly didn’t,” he said. “We’ve scored seven goals in a period before. You never know in playoffs.”
Tkachuk on his 1st misconduct:
“They might have thought that game was a little bit out of reach maybe in the second period, but we certainly didn’t. We’ve scored seven goals in a period before. You never know in playoffs.” pic.twitter.com/rAmDqzGL68
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) June 6, 2023
Eichel came to Tkachuk’s defense and said that the hit was “clean” and that he had just toe-picked at the wrong time on the play. Eichel was able to play in the third period, so the kerfuffle ultimately was much ado about nothing.
Game 2, third period
Tkachuk was finally tossed from Game 2 with yet another misconduct that ended his night after knocking Vegas center Michael Amadio’s stick out of his hand.
Matthew Tkachuk receives his second 10-minute misconduct of the game and third of the series. pic.twitter.com/ziVDJSqSgQ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 6, 2023
