Matthew Tkachuk dazzled once againMonday night with a between-the-legs shimmy early in the third period against the Sharks, a goal that e sentially ended all hope of a late-game comeback for the home team.Stretching theFlames' lead to 5-2 (before the eventual final score of 6-2), Tkachuk showedonce again why he is considered one of the rising stars in the NHL. With just under a minute remaining on the power play, the 22-year-old winger found the deadice after a mi sed pa s broke up the play. With his head up and eyes peeled to the puck, Noah Hanafin hit Tkachuk with a slap pa s to the right of San Josegoaltender Aaron
Jason Zucker Jersey Dell's cage.With a drop of theshoulder, Tkachuk persuadedDell to movebefore the youngster pulled the puckbetween his legs and launched itover the goalie, off the bar and into the net.This is just ridiculous, Matthew Tkachuk (). RIDICULOUS. NHL (@NHL) MORE: Tkachuk's hockey excellence began well before he was drafted sixth overall by Calgary in 2016. Matthew and his brother Brady grew up on the ice in St. Louis, where their dadKeithplayednine seasons for the Blues. Both boys made their first NHLAll-Star Game this season.Sneak peak at Big Walt preparing
Nino Niederreiter Jersey Matthew and Brady Tkachuk for their 1st All-Star game Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) When Matthew came onto the scene in the 2016-17 season as a rookie, manywere intrigued by what he might do. Forty-eight points (13 goals, 35 a sists) as a rookie wasn'ta bad start, and he followed that up with a 49-point season (24 goals, 25 a sists)in eight fewer games (68) in Year 2.It was last season, Tkachuk's third, when heexploded with 77 points (34 goals, 43 a sists), mi sing only two games. In afive-game playoff series against theAvalanchein which the Flames were upset, Tkachuk added three points on two goals and an a sist.MORE:Tkachukis on pace for 65 points this season, and the Flames do
Jared Spurgeon Jersey not hold the top seed in the Western Conference like they did last year,signaling an apparent drop-off. But when a player likeTkachukbreaks into the league the way he did, teams take noteand adjust their approach to stop him. Zack Ka sian isproof.Yes, the Oilers forward only took exception to the young Flame after Tkachukdelivered two powerful checks on him . But much of the aftermath of that conflict and the build-up to theirJan. 29rematch centered on the fact that Tkachuk is no longera new kid in the league,and thathe neededto answer the bell if he plans to play so heady.Tkachuk answered the bell by engaging in with the Oilers enforcer during that rematch. He did so as Edmonton fansin the stands donned
Darcy Kuemper Jersey Tkachuk turtle shirts, poking fun (and shame) at the Flameswinger for refusing to fight Ka sian in their priorencounter.MORE:Tkachuk's impact on Calgary's squad is evidenton the scoresheet even with the added attention from opposing teams. Heis just
Alex Stalock Jersey 12 points off what he was able to do last year when no one knew how to defend him. He is still able to make plays likethe one he made on Monday night.And Tkachuk does it in more ways than one. On Oct. 31,in overtime against the Predators off the rebound, he slid his stick between his skates and lifted the puck to light the lamp as the clock ran out.It securedthe second point in the standings as well as his spot as astar in the NHL.
