Matthew Tkachuk Issues Warning to Leafs' William Nylander Ahead of Game 5

As the Florida Panthers shut out the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4 of their second-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series to tie it at two games each, Matthew Tkachuk was spotted issuing a warning to Leafs winger William Nylander.

The exchange came at the end of Game 4 after a scrum broke out following a hit from behind on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov by Max Domi.

As officials were trying to break up the players as the game was over, Tkachuk, from the Panthers bench, looked over at Nylander and told him he's coming for him in Game 5 because of the hit. Barkov is one of Florida's points leaders in the post season, while Nylander is alone at the top for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Tkachuk also appeared to point to Nylander with his stick, and then made an elbowing gesture in a possible sign of what's to come.

Nylander was asked about the exchange after Game 4 had ended. He said he's well aware of what Tkachuk is capable of, and is looking forward to Game 5.

Domi risked a suspension for his hit on Barkov. As pointed out by Pierre Lebrun of TSN/The Athletic "message sending plays get NHL Player Safety attention. It's an area of focus in the CBA, message sending plays at end of games."

Thankfully, the NHL's Department of Player Safety did not deem the hit to be worthy of a suspension. Instead, they fined Domi $5,000. He is expected to be in the Leafs' lineup for what should be a spicy Game 5.