Nylander tees up Game 5 as series heats up: 'Going to be a fun one'

The hatred between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers is ramping up, and William Nylander is here for it.

Nylander was asked about an interaction with Matthew Tkachuk at the end of the game in which the Panthers pest appeared to tell the Leafs forward he's coming after him.

"He'll probably do whatever he can to get a player off their game," Nylander said postgame, per TSN. "Next game is going to be a fun one."

The discussion with Tkachuk came during an end-of-game scrum after Max Domi drilled Aleksander Barkov from behind in Florida's 2-0 win. The game featured ample physicality and 53 combined penalty minutes.

The home team has held serve so far in the series. The Maple Leafs won the first two games in Toronto, while the Panthers evened it up with back-to-back victories in Sunrise.

"I mean 2-2, it's going to be a long series," Nylander said. "That's where our mind's at."

Game 4 wasn't exactly one to remember for Nylander, whose ill-advised neutral-zone pass led directly to Florida's second goal.

The 29-year-old has had a strong postseason otherwise, though, as his six goals and 15 points pace all Maple Leafs skaters.