Matthew Tkachuk at the center of Team USA’s march to the gold medal game

Matthew Tkachuk shoved Erik Cernak late in the third period of Friday’s Olympic semifinal as Tkachuk and the Americans nursed a 6-2 lead over Cernak’s Team Slovakia. The puck was live, but neither player was near it. Cernak grabbed Tkachuk, the two shared a few expletives, and a referee blew his whistle.

As is typical with the Panthers’ alternate captain, Tkachuk knew the play still wasn’t over, especially not with a foe from the Tampa Bay Lighting. With an official in between them, Tkachuk caught Cernak with a quick right jab to the chin. Chaos ensued. Before long, Tkachuk and his brother Brady were walking together to the locker room, both with 10-minute misconduct penalties.

It has been that kind of Olympics for the fourth-year Panther, competing on Team USA’s first line alongside Brady and Vegas’ Jack Eichel. He’s not lighting the lamp like last year’s unforgettable run at the 4 Nations Face-Off, or during the Stanley Cup playoffs the past three seasons since he arrived in Florida. But his impact on the red-hot U.S. squad, headed to its first Olympic championship game in 16 years aiming for its first gold since the 1980 Miracle on Ice team, is perhaps as strong as ever.

“We’re so loaded on this team and everyone here can put the puck in the net,” Tkachuk said Friday, after the 6-2 score went final. “If anyone’s not filling the stat sheet, they’re definitely helping in other ways.”

Tkachuk, known for being an agitator who gets under opponents’ skin just as much as for his play in front of the net and brute strength on offense, is still tied for second on the team with six points (all assists). He trails only team captain Austin Matthews and Eichel for most minutes on the ice by a forward and as usual is among the American leaders in hits. In other words, don’t take Tkachuk’s lack of scoring as a sign he’s not playing well in his debut Olympics.

“I mean, Chucky’s done everything we could expect from him and more,” U.S. Coach Mike Sullivan said. “We’re a totally different team without him, as you saw in the 4 Nations final last year.”

“Him being healthy this year and ready to play makes us elite,” the coach added.

The U.S. will face Canada in the Olympic final Sunday at 8:10 a.m. Eastern Time. Canada, a co-favorite along with the U.S. heading into the tournament, overcame a 2-0 deficit against Finland earlier Friday to win their semifinal game 3-2. Many of the players on both the United States and Canadian rosters also played in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

Tkachuk timed an offseason adductor muscle surgery to recover and arrive in peak form for the Olympics. He said winning Olympic gold for the United States and avenging last year’s 4 Nations loss to Canada, in that order, are why he’s in Milan. Playing the Canadians twice at 4 Nations, and his overall familiarity with Canada’s players from battles in the NHL, makes Sunday’s game a “great matchup” for Tkachuk.

“It’s best on best, and it’s what every American and Canadian grows up watching,” he said. “This is the pinnacle of the sport and a rivalry that’s as good as it gets.”

The Panthers star expects the Americans to take a similar approach to Sunday’s game as their other matchups so far in the elimination round to avoid letting the moment get too big. He said players would “celebrate” Friday’s win at the Olympic Village, then start focusing on Canada at a team meeting Saturday morning.

It’s a winning formula that led Sullivan on Friday to call the U.S. team in Milan the best he has ever seen.

“They have a certain personality to them that’s contagious with their energy and resilience and how hard they care for one another and play for one another,” he said. “It excites me to have the opportunity to compete one more time with these guys.”

Asked what it would mean to be only the third American men’s hockey team ever to win gold, both Tkachuk and Sullivan said they haven’t allowed themselves to think that far ahead.

“All it is right now is an opportunity,” Tkachuk said. “We have to go out and earn it.”

This story was originally published February 20, 2026 at 10:51 PM.