Matthew Tkachuk takes a shot at Maple Leafs fans following series win

Friday was a big day for Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk. Not only was he nominated alongside Connor McDavid and David Pastrnak for the Hart Trophy, but his Florida Panthers punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Nick Cousins' overtime winner in Game 5 ended their second round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs and now the Panthers will play in their first Eastern Conference Final since 1996.

Following the massive victory, Matthew Tkachuk spoke with NHL on TNT's Darren Pang and wasted no time in taking a shot at Toronto Maple Leafs fans.

"We don't hear many 'We Want Florida's at this moment..."

Matthew Tkachuk is HYPED to go to the Eastern Conference Final ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/sQeDzuhvZf— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 13, 2023

The moment Tkachuk is referring to is during the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Once Toronto booked their place in the second round after beating Tampa Bay, the massive crowd outside Scotiabank Arena was seen and heard on video chanting 'We Want Florida'. Maple Leafs fans wanted to face the Panthers, rather than the Bruins, who they've had their fair share of trouble against in the playoffs.


The Panthers went on to defeat the Bruins in seven games in what is one of the biggest upsets in Stanley Cup Playoff history and then beat the Maple Leafs in five games.

Florida hasn't been to the Eastern Conference Final since 1996, so its been a long wait for their fanbase and as mentioned, they'll be facing their old Southeast Division rival, prior to the 2013 realignment, Carolina.