Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Maple Leafs Coach Jokes About Matthew Tkachuk-William Nylander Exchange

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated May 14, 2025 7:50 AM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs returned home from Sunrise, FL, still reeling from two losses that erased their 2-0 series lead and let the Florida Panthers back into the series.

As the Maple Leafs gear up for a pivotal Game 5 on Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, emotions remain high following a scuffle at the end of Game 4.

Sunday's game ended in a 2-0 shutout loss, but the spotlight quickly shifted to a moment right after the buzzer, with tensions already high after Max Domi’s boarding penalty on Aleksander Barkov.

Matthew Tkachuk turned his attention to William Nylander, pointing from the bench and shouting, “Guess who I’m going to get,” Tkachuk said. “I’m going to get you.”

He probably didn't even hear him. He doesn't even hear me

Craig Berube on Tkachuk going at Nylander pic.twitter.com/pCWcnMRoyO
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 13, 2025

Asked about the interaction, Nylander remained calm and was playful while addressing Tkachuk's comments.

“He’ll probably do whatever he can to get a player off their game,” Nylander said. “Next game is going to be a fun one.”

Leafs head coach Craig Berube was asked for his take on the Tkachuk threat aimed at his player, and responded with dry humor.

“(Nylander) probably didn’t even hear him,” Berube said. ”He doesn’t even hear me.”

Berube had previously joked that Nylander doesn’t want much direction from him on the bench. Following Game 2, he called Nylander a player who “thrives” under pressure and prefers to be left alone.

“Nothing gets to him,” Berube said. “He doesn’t feel pressure. And I could be wrong, but this is what I see. There’s no too big a stage for this guy. He thrives on this stuff.”

Nylander leads all Maple Leafs players with 15 points in 10 games and ranks third league-wide in total postseason points, only trailing Connor McDavid's 17 and Mikko Rantanen's 19.

Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Second Round between the Maple Leafs and Panthers is scheduled for puck drop at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday in Toronto.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: