Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk on Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon: 4 Nations Face-off final ‘bigger’ than Stanley Cup
Matthew Tkachuk is loving the cameras after the 4 Nations Face-off.
The Florida Panthers forward joined Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show on Monday night, calling the tournament’s final the most significant game he ever played – ever bigger than the 2024 Stanley Cup Game 7 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
“It really was such a big tournament, such a huge stage, something that I’ll never forget,” he told Fallon. “The thing that I’m most proud of with that team was how much pride we showed representing our country and being American and being so lucky to represent this great country.”
Fallon isn’t exactly the next great hockey reporter, but he’s all over it anytime Team USA does something significant. Olympians, celebrities, musicians, and world leaders are commonplace on his show.
The @NHL is a family affair for @TKACHUKycheese_ 🏒 #FallonTonight #4Nations pic.twitter.com/gfsKPPEcjk
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) February 25, 2025“Myself and all the guys that were in this were just so jacked up for it, and I think that’s why you saw the fights all at the beginning against Canada,” Tkatchuk said, adding his father and former NHL star Keith Tkachuk was pretty proud of his two boys for getting into two fights in the preliminary matchup.
“I think he was pretty proud.”
USA vs. Canada started off in MADNESS 😳
📺: ABC/ESPN+/Disney+ pic.twitter.com/BrWlXzMb7J
Matthew said that playing competitive games with his brother, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, was a standout moment. They’ve previously crossed paths at the NHL All-Star Game, which Matthew quipped was “fake.”
“It was our first-ever opportunity, and we grew up always competing against each other and dreaming about eventually one day,” Matthew said.
The late-night host also pulled out a photo of him with Keith and Brady following the Panthers’ Stanley Cup win, the family’s first NHL title. This gave the veteran of 1,201 NHL regular season games a chance to hold the Stanley Cup.
“That’s the only time I’ve ever seen [Keith] cry,” and my brother was crying there too,” he said. “I haven’t seen him cry since playing mini sticks in the basement, throwing them through the walls.”
The elder Tkachuk may not have captured the Stanley Cup, but he does have an Olympic silver medal from the Americans’ loss to Canada at the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics. Yet Matthew—who says he’s feeling better from the injury he picked up during the 4 Nations—is expecting nothing less than gold at Milano-Cortina 2026.
Team USA last won Olympic hockey gold at Lake Placid in 1980.
“I truly believe in our team, and we got so close with this tournament and looking at next year as being a chance at redemption. But I truly believe in our chances and, like I said, wearing the USA crest, there’s nothing like it, and we have so much pride in it. We’ll be ready to go.”
Tkachuk has 22 goals and 57 points in 52 games this season but did not participate in the Panthers’ return to NHL action – a 3-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken. Coach Paul Maurice added Monday that Tkachuk’s injury could be a bit longer term, “but he’s playing for us this year.”
The Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic men’s hockey tournament begins Feb. 11, 2026.