After the Florida Panthers celebrated winning their second Stanley Cup in a row, something unexpected grabbed fans’ attention online. It wasn’t just the trophy or the on-ice action people started talking about a quiet but clear online moment involving the families of two big NHL stars. A post made by Matthew Tkachuk’s sister, Taryn, is now being linked to a message shared earlier by Connor McDavid’s wife, Lauren Kyle. But why are people talking about it?

On Wednesday, June 19, 2025, Taryn Tkachuk posted photos on Instagram after her brother Matthew and the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup.

The photos were taken at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, just hours after the team lifted the trophy by winning the final in Game 6.

The first picture showed Taryn with her brothers—Matthew, holding the Stanley Cup, and Brady, who plays for the Ottawa Senators. The second image was Matthew celebrating on the ice. The third was a photo with their father, Keith Tkachuk, and the team’s famous rat mascot.Fans soon saw the post, mostly due to its scheduling.

Lauren Kyle, Connor McDavid's wife, posted something on her own Instagram tale just few days earlier on Tuesday, June 17 following the Oilers' Game 4 loss to the Panthers. She shared a screenshot talking about how Alberta has been “rat-free” since 1950. The post didn’t have a caption, but many believed it was a quiet shot at the Panthers’ rat tradition.

Florida Panthers fans throw plastic rats on the ice after goals. This started in 1995 after a player killed a rat in the locker room and scored twice that night.

It became known as the “rat trick.” The team’s identity has been tied to rats ever since. Some players, like Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marchand, are even called “rats” for their playing style, aggressive, pesky, and fearless.Also Read: “It's Difficult For People To Realize”: Lauren Kyle Opens Up About Heartbreaking Reality Of Life With Connor McDavid During Stanley Cup FinalsMany people saw Lauren Kyle’s post about Alberta being rat-free as a dig at the Panthers’ identity. Taryn Tkachuk’s post came soon after, showing full support for her brother and the team’s tradition.Matthew Tkachuk played through injury in the playoffs. He said via CBS Sports, “I tore my adductor off the bone and had some hernia thing.” Still, he scored 23 points in 23 games and helped the Panthers become back-to-back champions.