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Matthew Tkachuk Reveals Stunning Story About Brother Brady on Jimmy Fallon

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Treppedi | Last updated Feb 25, 2025 6:20 PM ET

Matthew and Brady Tkachuk have been playing against one another in the NHL since the latter was drafted in 2018.

Their father, Keith, played in the NHL for 18 years, retiring in 2010, and never was able to hoist the Stanley Cup.

Matthew—who like his younger brother—was drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft in 2016, was the first in the family to achieve hockey's steepest climb last season when he won the Cup with the Florida Panthers in a seven-game classic against the Edmonton Oilers.

The Tkachuk family was present for the 2-1 Game 7 victory that would engrave their surname onto the iconic piece of hardware.

Tkachuk paid a visit to "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on Monday after gaining notoriety for his play in the 4 Nations Face-Off international best-on-best tournament over the last two weeks. He shared a revealing moment with Fallon about the relationship between him and his brother, and how winning the Cup magnified it.

“My brother was crying there, too,” Tkachuk said. “I haven’t seen him cry since playing mini-sticks in the basement, throwing him through the walls.”

The Tkachuk brother play against each other within the Atlantic Division since Matthew left the Calgary Flames in 2022 to join the Panthers.

Matthew and Brady, who is the Ottawa Senators' captain, scored two goals apiece in the opening game against Finland. Both brothers then fought Canada's Brandon Hagel and Sam Bennett, respectively, in the opening moments of the round-robin grudge match.

While Brady returned to his post in Ottawa, Matthew is out with an injury that he sustained in the championship, however, he is still expected to return to the Panthers' lineup this season to help them defend their title in the spring.

But both brothers will reunite next winter for the 2026 Olympic Winter Olympics in Italy.

“I truly believe in our team,” he said. “We got so close with this tournament, looking at next year being a chance at redemption. I truly believe in our chances. Wearing the USA crest there’s nothing like it — we have so much pride in it, and we’ll be ready to go.”

Fallon closed the four-minute segment by inviting Tkachuk back.

“Next time I see you,” Fallon said, “there’ll be gold around your neck.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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