The Carolina Hurricanes managed to push back and avoid being swept by the Florida Panthers in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals. Their 3–0 victory marked the Hurricanes’ first win in a Conference Final since 2006, the year they went on to win the Stanley Cup. However, one of the biggest talking points after the game was not just the win, but the embellishment call on Matthew Tkachuk—and Jordan Staal’s reaction to it.
After their loss in Game Three on Saturday, it looked like the Hurricanes’ winless streak in Conference Finals would continue. But they bounced back on Monday night, securing a 3–0 win over the Panthers. The series now heads back to Carolina, where the Hurricanes have a chance to close the gap even further.
Jordan Staal mocking Matthew Tkachuk
Much of the post-game discussion centered around a sequence in which Jordan Staal was penalized for hooking Matthew Tkachuk. However, Tkachuk was also assessed a penalty—for embellishment. When the call was made, Tkachuk appeared frustrated, putting his hands on his head in disbelief. Upon seeing this, Staal couldn’t help but mimic Tkachuk’s reaction. Fans are now having a laugh at Staal’s cheeky response.
“Staal with the savage mimic,” one person wrote on X.
“That had me laughing pretty hard,” added another.
Game Five will be played on Wednesday in Carolina. You can watch the incident below.
READ MORE: Paul Maurice has reporters in stitches
