Tkachuk and Barkov ripped by NHL fans for breaking the code at Winter Classic

The moment featured injured stars Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk joining musical artist Role Model on stage to lift the Stanley Cup and dance while the singer performed his hit "Sally".

Of course, it wouldn't be the first time that Florida's Mathew Tkachuk took the opportunity to show the world he's won a Stanley Cup. Once he took a dip with it in the Atlantic Ocean, another he danced with it at his wedding, while poking fun at Edmonton's fanbase.

This last one, however, takes the cake, and insults a wider fan base than just Edmonton's.

Some observers questioned the optics of having star players on the injury list (Barkov with a knee injury and Tkachuk with groin/shoulder issues) performing on a stage mid-game.

The spectacle is perhaps even more embarrassing, given the Panthers currently sit outside a playoff spot and look nothing like the team that won the Stanley Cup last season.

A frequent point of derision among critics was that the Panthers were hoisting the Cup in January while actively losing the game. The Rangers eventually won 5-1.

There is nothing wrong with having fun during an event meant to entertain, as in the entire Panthers' team showing up at Winter Classic dressed all in white.

Hoisting the Stanley Cup in a game you're losing, in a season you may not qualify for the post-season, and by two players that haven't played all season...well, the optics are not good, to say the least.

Rangers coach Mike Sullivan joked that he didn't get the memo about the outfits before the game and was «kind of happy about it," as reported by an NHL.com article about the event.

Then again, it's the kind of thing we've come to expect from a team led by Paul Maurice and his cast of characters.