Team USA Matthew Tkachuk’s savage Olympic comment to NHL rival goes viral
Matthew Tkachuk and Leon Draisaitl do not like one another.
They don’t like each other when they’re playing in the NHL for the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers, respectively.
They don’t like each other when they’re on vacation and pass each other on a random beach in the Caribbean.
And they especially don’t like one another when they’re representing their countries at the Winter Olympic Games.
On Sunday, Tkachuk’s United States of America faced Draisaitl’s Germany in a group-stage matchup.
It was a hard-hitting affair, especially for the boisterous and physical Tkachuk, whose in-your-face style has made him a target for almost every team in the league.
Tkachuk was whacked at, cross-checked, and pummeled into the boards, but it didn’t faze the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion.
In the past two NHL seasons, Tkachuk’s Panthers have defeated Draisaitl’s Oilers in the championship finals. After both seasons, Draisaitl has had to watch from the sidelines as the American hoisted the trophy high.
Tkachuk knows this gets under the German superstar’s skin, so he made sure to let his rival know it during the game.
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Although not on the microphone, internet lip readers made out one of the insults the Panther leader hurled at Draisaitl on the ice.
“Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.”
Following the trash talk, the Americans pulled away from the German side, which lacked the depth to keep up with their star-studded opponents.
Tkachuk got his fourth assist of the tournament and kept Draisaitl off the score sheet, securing top place in their group.
Germany will now have to play an extra qualifier game against France on Tuesday for a chance to play Slovakia in the quarters.
For Team USA, they will await the winner of Sweden vs. Latvia, who will face them the very next night in Milan on Wednesday.
