The Florida Panthers are ending 2023 on a high note. Star forward Matthew Tkachuk picked up two assists on Friday night as Florida took down the New York Rangers at home. It's the third win on the trot for Florida as they continue to chase down the Boston Bruins in the Atlantic Division standings.

Not only are the Panthers winning, they are beating good teams. Their other two wins in this streak are against the Vegas Golden Knights and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Vegas defeated the Panthers in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, and have played extremely well in 2023-24. Tampa is not their usual selves this year, but they are still a good hockey team.

Florida hasn't played perfectly, despite their recent run. However, they are still pulling out the win against some of the better teams in the league. That is something Matthew Tkachuk can be pleased with, even if there are things to clean up.

“Three wins in a row against three really good teams,” the Panthers star said, via the team's official website. “We really haven’t played a perfect start-to-finish game, but we’re finding ways. That’s very encouraging.”

Article Continues Below
More Florida Panthers News
Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena.
Panthers’ Sam Bennett takes dig at NHL Scouting Combine critics after winning Conn SmytheMalik Brown ·
Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) hoist the Stanley Cup after game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena.
Matthew Tkachuk’s hilarious 2-word message to official Stanley Cup accountMalik Brown ·
Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) deflects the puck against Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) during the third period in game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena.
Matthew Tkachuk makes Connor McDavid Stanley Cup guaranteeColin Gallant ·
Panthers General Manager Bill Zito places the Stanley Cup on a table on Wednesday August 14, 2024 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis.
Panthers GM drops free agency truth bomb after Stanley Cup repeatQuinn Allen ·
Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena.
Brad Marchand’s 8-word admission after Panthers’ Stanley Cup victory will scare rest of the NHLOwen Crisafulli ·
Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner, presents Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) the Conn Smythe Trophy after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena.
Panthers’ Sam Bennett drops truth bomb on winning Conn Smythe TrophyColin Gallant ·

Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers stand up to Metro-leading Rangers

The Panthers opened the scoring late in the first. Evan Rodrigues scored his seventh goal of the year to give Florida the lead. Sam Reinhart found the mark in the middle frame to extend the lead. However, the Rangers tied the game in the second.

Reinhart scored near the end of the period to give Florida the lead heading into the intermission. New York wasn't going to go away quietly, however. Mika Zibanejad scored his 14th of the season on the power play to tie things once again. Later in the period, though, Carter Verhaeghe put Florida ahead for good with his 17th of the year.

The Panthers have had a nice run to end the 2023 calendar year. Florida certainly hopes to put a perfect bow on it on Saturday as they take on the Montreal Canadiens for their final game before 2024 officially begins.