«I did not know that wasn't allowed. It was the day after I won, I still hadn't slept, and it was just me and a few teammates. We had nobody with us to say, ‘Matthew, don't be an idiot. Don't do that.' So I thought it was fitting, but if I would have known I wasn't supposed to do it, I wouldn't have done it, but also, I think it's pretty funny.»
Tkachuk credited his brother, Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk, with the idea. Despite the controversy, Tkachuk enjoyed his individual day with the Stanley Cup in St. Louis, spending it with his Hall of Fame father, Keith Tkachuk, and visiting a local children's hospital. Now, he is focused on training and preparing to defend the championship with his brother.