Tkachuk, Bennett reunited, wreaking havoc for Panthers in playoffs

TORONTO -- On Jan. 4, 2022, the Florida Panthers defeated the Calgary Flames 6-2 at FLA Live Arena.

Little did the Panthers know it was a home game that would change the future of their franchise.

Here's why.

With his former Calgary teammates in town, Panthers forward Sam Bennett wined and dined them and showcased the sun-splashed life in south Florida.

The beaches, golf courses and warm weather in January made an impression on then-Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk. And when the 25-year-old asked Calgary to trade him six months later, Florida was his preferred destination.

"Last year when we were in Florida he showed me and a bunch of his former teammates around," Tkachuk said Wednesday. "Went out for dinner, went out or a little bit afterward.

"I think you guys can thank 'Bennie' for my love for Florida. He's the one who showed me around so … it was cool."

Through the first three weeks of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, opposing teams are more likely blaming Bennett than thanking him for his part in Tkachuk falling in love with Florida.

The two former Flames are linemates in Florida and have been disruptive forces in the postseason thus far, helping the Panthers upset the top-seeded Boston Bruins in the first round and sparking a 4-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Second Round.

Tkachuk simply was too much for the Maple Leafs to handle, getting three assists and delivering nine hits. He accomplished all this while being knocked around by Toronto, even finding himself flattened several times, including a hit by defenseman Luke Schenn that knocked him on his behind.

"It's playoff hockey," Tkachuk said, flashing his trademark mischievous grin. "You've got to take a few hits to make plays this time of year. Just playoff hockey.

"Dish 'em out, and you got to take 'em."

RELATED: [Complete Maple Leafs vs. Panthers series coverage]

The line of Tkachuk, Bennett and Nick Cousins line caused all kinds of havoc. Cousins opened the scoring at 9:25 of the first period with Tkachuk and Bennett assisting. Bennett made it 2-0 at 7:58 of the second period with an assist from Tkachuk and defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

After Toronto tied the game 2-2, Florida made it 3-2 at 17:47 of the second period on a goal by Carter Verhaeghe, then iced the game when Tkachuk and Alexander Barkov assisted on Brandon Mountour's goal at 12:24 of the third period.

In addition to Tkachuk's three assists, Bennett had two points (one goal, one assists), four hits and six penalty minutes.

The Maple Leafs never found an answer. And if they don't, starting with Game 2 at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday (7 p.m. ET: TNT, CBC, SN, TVAS), they could find themselves out, just like the Bruins in the first round.

Tkachuk was at his feisty best in the seven-game disposal of the Bruins, leading the way with 11 points (five goals, six assists) and getting under the collective skins of Boston players like goalie Linus Ullmark. He credits much of his success to Bennett, who returned from injury for Game 2 against Boston and had five points (three goals, two assists) in the series.

"Lots of energy. Creates turnovers. A really good knock of making those little plays," Tkachuk said.

"Playing with Bennie all year, he's really, really helped my game. I absolutely love playing with him."

Not to mention his constant reminders of life in Florida.

"For sure," Bennett said with a laugh. "I was always sending them pictures and stuff from Florida, being on the water or being on the jet skis during off days. And when they came to Florida, I took them out for dinner. I think that made them all pretty jealous at that time."

The relationship between Bennett and Tkachuk goes back to Tkachuk's first training camp with the Flames in 2016. He'd been selected No. 6 in the NHL Draft a few months earlier; Bennett was picked No. 4 by Calgary in 2014.

"We ended up living in the same building," Bennett said. "Got pretty close. Ended up hanging out after games, between games. So that friendship ended up growing right away.

"It's pretty easy to become friends with anyone on your team. And when you're the same age and both move to a new city together, it's pretty much easy."

Tkachuk said the two spent a lot of time together on the ice and off, including at the famed Cactus Club Cafe, a renowned Calgary nightspot.

"We had a lot of fun together," Tkachuk said. "We were two young guys on the team, had a few other young guys around us. We had a great group of guys there my first couple of years. We did everything together. But me and Bennie were the two youngest by far. We hung out. We lived in the same building for a bunch of years.

"Everywhere he was, I was."

That ended April 12, 2021, when Bennett was traded to the Panthers with a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft for forward prospect Emil Heineman and a second-round pick in 2022.

Bennett regularly stayed in touch with Tkachuk after the trade. And when Tkachuk was traded to Florida for forward Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar on July 25, 2022, the two were reunited.

"That was crazy, was not expecting that at all," Bennett said of the trade. "It was weird because I'd gotten close with Huberdeau and Weegar. And was really good friends with 'Chucky' as well. It was a crazy, crazy time.

"Definitely happy with the way things worked out."

So is Tkachuk.

"Absolutely," he said. "He was the first guy who called me and the first guy I talked to when I got traded. Somewhat like when he got traded …

"I just think we knew right away when I was coming down here I was going to play with him. And talking with [coach Paul Maurice] right away, well, really excited for myself I was going to play with someone I was really familiar with."

The rest is history. They each have shown a penchant of scoring big goals and delivering big hits while irritating opposing goalies with their net-front presence which sometimes crosses over into the blue paint of the crease.

It's a mixture of skill and sandpaper that is taking its toll on the opposition.

"For sure we're having fun," Bennett said. "The goal now: just keep it going."