SUNRISE, Fla. -- Matthew Tkachuk is focused on winning the Stanley Cup for the Florida Panthers, which they can do on Tuesday in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS, CBC).
But the Panthers forward has also been keeping an eye on his good friend and fellow St. Louis native Jayson Tatum, who won his first NBA championship with the Boston Celtics on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks.
After the Celtics' 106-88 win at TD Garden on Monday that clinched the title, Tatum has a message for his old friend.
"Tkachuk, yo, get it done tomorrow," Tatum said. "One kid from St. Louis won a championship today, let's make it two tomorrow."
During Stanley Cup Final Media Day earlier this month, Tkachuk said he was keeping an eye on Tatum.
“Yeah it’s actually really cool when you think about it," Tkachuk said. "Everyone from St. Louis, whether they were going to watch or not, with having both of us in, I’d say there’s a lot of people, especially the kids we grew up with and families and people who know us, they’re pulling for both teams. It’s super cool to have that support back home for not only myself, but for the Celtics as well."
Tkachuk and Tatum each attended Chaminade College Preparatory School, an independent Catholic school for boys in grades 6-12, in St. Louis. Tkachuk left there after the ninth grade for the United States National Development Program. Tatum graduated in 2016 and his No. 22 was retired by the school two years later.
“I know I’m watching the games. I think it would be unreal for Chaminade and all of St. Louis if we can both win it,” Tkachuk said. “Yeah, I’m definitely cheering for him. Definitely."
