Oh, brother: Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk both score in Panthers-Senators game

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Brady Tkachuk scored for Ottawa. Matthew Tkachuk scored for Florida.

Before the brothers become teammates, the sibling rivalry was on display once again Saturday night.

For the third time in 24 head-to-head meetings, the Tkachuk brothers both scored in the same game. It also happened on Feb. 27, 2021 — when Matthew Tkachuk was playing for Calgary — and on Oct. 29, 2022, the first time they met on the ice after Matthew Tkachuk joined the Panthers.

They'll be on the ice together plenty these next two weeks, as USA Hockey teammates in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament that starts Wednesday.

“It’s going to be way more fun to be on the same side as opposed to playing against him," Matthew Tkachuk said after his three-point night fueled Florida's 5-1 win over Ottawa on Saturday.

Brady Tkachuk opened the scoring for Ottawa in the first period, getting his 21st goal of the season. That tied him with his brother for goals this season — and goals in head-to-head matchups as well, giving them seven apiece in those meetings.

Those stat ties didn't last for long.

Matthew Tkachuk got Florida on the board in the second period, his 22nd of the season and the start of a four-goal outburst by the Panthers in those 20 minutes.

And now, they go from opponents to teammates. They'll be wearing the USA sweater just like their father, NHL legend Keith Tkachuk — a four-time Olympian who had a hat trick during the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

“It's going to be amazing,” Brady Tkachuk told Sportsnet before the game in an on-ice interview. “It's something that we've always dreamt of doing together.”

Added Matthew Tkachuk after the game: “To represent my country, to wear that crest, it’s such an honor being able to be on a team that says the United States of America.”

Saturday's game was the first time Brady Tkachuk was on the ice in Sunrise since the postgame celebration on June 24, 2024 — the night the Panthers beat Edmonton in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Brady Tkachuk was there to cheer on his brother throughout the playoffs, and the Senators go into the 4 Nations break firmly in playoff contention.

In his seventh NHL season, Brady Tkachuk has yet to experience playoff hockey. Matthew Tkachuk said he hopes this is the year that changes.

"That's the most special memory, just being able to see my best friend accomplish our childhood dream," Brady Tkachuk said when asked about what being in Sunrise for the Stanley Cup clincher meant to him. “And to see that and see how happy he was, it definitely lit a fire inside me to be able to do it myself. I'm looking forward to that day.”

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) shoots to score a goal past Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) attempts a shot on the goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) reacts after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates with center Aleksander Barkov (16) after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Carson Beck scrambled for a 3-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left, and Miami will head back home for a shot at its first national championship since 2001 after beating Mississippi 31-27 in an exhilarating College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday night.

The 10th-ranked Hurricanes (13-2) had their vaunted defense picked apart by the sixth-ranked Rebels (13-2) in a wild fourth quarter, falling into a 27-24 hole after Trinidad Chambliss threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dae'Quan Wright with 3:13 left.

Beck, who won a national title as a backup at Georgia, kept the Hurricanes calm amid the storm, leading them down the field for the winning score — and a shot at a national title on their home field at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19. Beck is 37-5 as a starter, including two seasons at Georgia.

The sixth-seeded Rebels lost their coach before the playoff, but not their cool.

If anything, Lane Kiffin’s decision to bolt for LSU seemed to harden Ole Miss’ resolve, pushing the Rebels to the best season in school history — and within a game of their first national championship game.

Ole Miss kept Miami within reach when its offense labored and took a 19-17 lead on Lucas Carneiro’s fourth field goal, from 21 yards.

Malachi Toney, the hero of Miami’s opening CFP win over Texas A&M, turned a screen pass into a 36-yard touchdown that put Miami up 24-19.

Chambliss' TD pass to Wright put the Rebels back on top, but improbable run came to an end when the defense couldn't hold the Hurricanes.

But what a run it was.

With Pete Golding calling the shots after being promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach, and most of the assistants sticking around, the Rebels blew out Tulane to open the playoff and took down mighty Georgia in the CFP quarterfinals.

They faced a different kind of storm in the Hurricanes.

Miami has rekindled memories of its 2001 national championship team behind a defense that went from porous to nearly impenetrable in its first season under coordinator Corey Hetherman.

The Hurricanes walled up early in the Fiesta Bowl, holding Ole Miss to minus-1 yard.

One play revved up the Rebels and their rowdy fans.

Kewan Lacy, the nation’s third-leading rusher, burst through a hole up the middle for a 73-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter — the longest run allowed by Miami’s defense since 2018.

The Hurricanes seemed content to grind away at the Rebels in small chunks offensively, setting up CharMar Brown’s 4-yard touchdown run and a field goal.

Miami unlocked the deep game just before halftime, taking advantage of a busted coverage for a 52-yard touchdown pass from Beck to Keelan Marion.

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Miami wide receiver CJ Daniels (7) catches a pass while tackled by Mississippi cornerback Chris Graves Jr. (32) during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Miami running back Charmar Brown (6) runs the ball against Mississippi linebacker Tahj Chambers (26) during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Mississippi cornerback Chris Graves Jr. (32) tackles Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (4) during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) celebrates after a two-point conversion during the second half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game against Miami, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Miami quarterback Carson Beck scores a touchdown during the second half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game against Mississippi, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Miami quarterback Carson Beck, right, prepares to hand off to running back Mark Fletcher Jr. during the first half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against Ohio State Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Mississippi head coach Pete Golding runs on the field at halftime during the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football playoff quarterfinal game against Georgia, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)