Stanley Cup Countdown (June 7)

SUNRISE, Fla. — Corey Perry smiles and laughs when you ask the question.

Does Perry see a little of himself in Matthew Tkachuk?

“Probably, yeah,” replies Perry, who knows what you’re talking about. “He’s definitely been doing it for a while. It’s an art, right? It’s fun to watch.

“We’ve had some good battles against each other. You know what you’re gonna get with him.”

What you’re gonna get is a dangerous playmaker who thrives in the muck and shines in the spotlight. A guy who never shies from the grand moment — like, say, a Stanley Cup Final — but relishes all the tiny, dirty ones along the way.

A player who grasps what rivalry means and knows how to worm his way under an opponent’s skin to the point where you want to rip that mouthguard out of his mouth and chuck it into the stands.

Yes, in Florida Panthers stars Tkachuk and the differently nasty Sam Bennett, the Edmonton Oilers are about to get reacquainted with a couple of old enemies. A couple of old Flames will surely rekindle a spark. 

Darnell Nurse fondly remembers Tkachuk’s Calgary days, when he laid “a couple of hits that ignited some scraps” and routinely elevated the game’s temperature when he stepped on the ice. 

“Probably the most fun the Battle of Alberta ever was,” says Nurse, speaking of his era. “The animosity and the heat that was going on in that series — he brought a lot of it in his style of play.”

That series, Edmonton’s wild second-round victory over the Flames in 2022, marked Tkachuk’s final days in Alberta.

Tkachuk took his talents to South Florida in a Bill Zito–directed summer blockbuster that reunited him with Bennett and altered the trajectory of two franchises. 

The Panthers haven’t missed a playoff round since; the Flames haven’t been back to the dance.

Panthers fourth-liner Ryan Lomberg, another ex-Flame, remembers lighting up when the trade broke. 

“I remember telling one of my buddies: ‘We might lose more regular season games, but we’re gonna win more playoff games.’ And that’s exactly how it’s played out,” Lomberg says. “Billy called him a unicorn when he first got him… I think he nailed it.”

Panthers veteran Kyle Okposo talks about Tkachuk the same way teammates talk about Perry.

“He will do