SALT LAKE CITY – Pro athletes often have lots of extra time on their hands when on the road. With many still being children at heart, pranks and general tomfoolery are never far away.
Teams might fill a rookie’s car with popcorn, hide their clothes after a practice, or give bad directions to an unsuspecting victim in a new city. Since Salt Lake City was on the NHL schedule for the first time, many NHL veterans and youngsters alike came into town, unfamiliar with the local fare.
Veteran winger Matthew Tkachuk seized on the opportunity. With the help of Utah captain Clayton Keller, Tkachuk sent several of his Florida Panthers teammates unknowingly in search of some terrible food.
“I think I stayed in that night,” Tkachuk remembered with a chuckle. “But I did fake send a bunch of my teammates to a hot spot there. They walked 30 minutes and hated it.”
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Matthew Tkachuk doesn’t miss an opportunity to pull a good prank. 😹
Cc: Craig McMorris
📺: @FlaPanthers vs. @EdmontonOilers #StanleyCup Final Game 2 TONIGHT at 8p ET on @NHL_On_TNT, @SportsonMax, @Sportsnet, and @TVASports pic.twitter.com/F5okiqBGiU
— NHL (@NHL) June 6, 2025
The nine-year veteran wouldn’t share where he sent his teammates, but did reveal a little more of the story.
After deciding to use his friendship with Keller to his advantage, Tkachuk spoke up.
“Well Clayton Keller said this place is really good…” not having anywhere in mind to send them.
After searching the area on his phone for the perfect rendezvous spot, the trap was set.
“I found a place that was like 29 minutes away walking,” Tkachuk said. “By the time they got there, they walked in and immediately opened the door and were like, ‘He got us.”
Tkachuk helps Panthers to important Game 2 OT win
The Edmonton Oilers came from behind to earn an overtime win in game one.
Game two looked to be playing out similarly as the Oilers scored the game-tying goal with 17 seconds left in the final period to force overtime.
Suddenly, the 2024 rematch from a seven-game Stanley Cup thriller had featured two overtime games. Two more than were played when the Panthers prevailed over Edmonton last spring.
THE CATS HAVE EVENED THE SERIES!! 😼
Catch Game 3 of the #StanleyCup Final between the @EdmontonOilers and @FlaPanthers Monday, June 9 at 8p ET on @NHL_On_TNT, @SportsonMax, @Sportsnet, and @TVASports! pic.twitter.com/5UmL8RJibg
— NHL (@NHL) June 7, 2025
After a scoreless first OT, both teams were exhausted from the incredibly physical play that had characterized the first eight periods of the series.
Trade deadline acquisition Brad Marchand gave the Panthers life when he split the defense midway through the second overtime to score the game winner.
The series heads back to Florida for game three on Monday, June 9. The puck drops at 6 p.m. MT.
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Brian Preece is a KSLSports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.