Matthew Tkachuk almost saved the game for the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, and perhaps he would have if not for the dreadful effort of a veteran teammate.
The Florida Panthers were down a goal in the final minute of Game Five in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and ultimately, yet another point from the incredible Connor McDavid is what sunk them in a winnable game. It wasn't due to a lack of effort on all parts however, as Matthew Tkachuk made a highlight reel save as the final seconds ticked off the clock, giving the Florida Panthers a glimmer of hope.
Unfortunately for the red-hot crowd in Florida, not everyone showed that type of hustle, as a wide angle shot of the save shows Panthers veteran Oliver Ekman-Larsson lacking any type of urgency, leading to an immediate Connor McDavid goal.
Tkachuk makes an all-time great goal-line save and Ekman-Larsson just...gives up on the play and lets McDavid score anyways.
With the Stanley Cup in the building, come on man.
With a chance, albeit a slim one, of winning the Stanley Cup, this just isn't a winners mentality, and if the Panthers are to head to Edmonton for Game Six and win the Cup on the road, they will need every single player on the ice replicating Tkachuk in this moment, not OEL.