Tkachuk and the Four-Point Storm: How Hartford Harpooned the Nordiques Twice
Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2025 8:28 am
Quebec City might be known for its chilly winters, but the Nordiques felt the heat this weekend as the Hartford Whalers skated away with back-to-back wins, leaving nothing but bruised egos and scuffed ice in their wake.
Saturday’s nail-biter in Hartford hinted at the storm brewing, but Sunday’s 6-2 rout in Quebec proved the Whalers came ready to blubber their way to victory. Powered by a four-point performance from the captain of chaos Matthew Tkachuk and Tage Thompson doing his best "I'm here to help" impression, the Whalers jumped out early and never looked back. Tkachuk now leads the team in goals (8) and assists (15), effectively establishing himself as the league's unofficial “fun police” by raining on Nordique parades everywhere.
Goalie Jacob Markstrom must’ve finally found the secret Swedish energy drink because he’s now riding a three-game win streak after a shaky start to the season. Meanwhile, backup Jiri Patera made a brief cameo for Quebec, but honestly, even he probably wanted to head back to the bench given the Whalers' relentless firepower.
Oh, and let’s not forget about Teddy Blueger, who made his season debut and gave Artturi Lehkonen a much-needed day off. Call it load management or just straight-up avoidance—either way, Lehkonen owes Blueger a coffee. Maybe two.
Even the fans got their money's worth in penalties, as players on both sides seemed determined to turn the rink into a makeshift boxing ring.
Saturday’s nail-biter in Hartford hinted at the storm brewing, but Sunday’s 6-2 rout in Quebec proved the Whalers came ready to blubber their way to victory. Powered by a four-point performance from the captain of chaos Matthew Tkachuk and Tage Thompson doing his best "I'm here to help" impression, the Whalers jumped out early and never looked back. Tkachuk now leads the team in goals (8) and assists (15), effectively establishing himself as the league's unofficial “fun police” by raining on Nordique parades everywhere.
Goalie Jacob Markstrom must’ve finally found the secret Swedish energy drink because he’s now riding a three-game win streak after a shaky start to the season. Meanwhile, backup Jiri Patera made a brief cameo for Quebec, but honestly, even he probably wanted to head back to the bench given the Whalers' relentless firepower.
Oh, and let’s not forget about Teddy Blueger, who made his season debut and gave Artturi Lehkonen a much-needed day off. Call it load management or just straight-up avoidance—either way, Lehkonen owes Blueger a coffee. Maybe two.
Even the fans got their money's worth in penalties, as players on both sides seemed determined to turn the rink into a makeshift boxing ring.