Matthew Tkachuk Trolling Leon Draisaitl Caught on Hot Mic During USA's Win vs. Germany at Olympics

Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk found himself in a familiar position during Team USA's 5-1 win over Germany in the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

In the second period with the U.S. ahead, Tkachuk couldn't help but troll Germany's Leon Draisaitl, who stars for the Edmonton Oilers and lost to the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final in each of the last two seasons.

"Always the bridesman, eh, Leon?" Tkachuk said as the two skated near the benches, per Mark Lazerus of The Athletic. "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride."

Tkachuck and his linemates, Brady Tkachuk and Jack Eichel, spent most of Sunday night's group-stage finale at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena matched up against Draisaitl's line. He finished the game with two assists, while Draisaitl failed to make it on the scoresheet.

Tkachuk made it clear after Team USA's win that he respects Draisaitl after their NHL battles in recent years.

"It's always a challenge," he said of playing Draisaitl. "Our teams have some history. And (it's) always fun playing him."

While he has long been known for his trash talk, Tkachuk added that he usually doesn't resort to trading verbal barbs with Draisaitl, but Sunday's game was a special case.

"I wouldn't say so," he said. "Some guys, you've got to play harder than most physically, and maybe after the whistle sometimes, too. I thought our line, I thought (Eichel) especially did an unbelievable job of giving him and their line nothing tonight. Sometimes you've got to play both parts of the game. I thought mainly (Eichel) did a great job, (between) the whistles, of playing him hard."

While Tkachuk and Team USA clinched a bye through to the quarterfinals, Draisaitl will be leading Germany in the qualification round against France on Tuesday in hopes of staying alive in the Winter Olympics.