Maple Leafs HC Craig Berube reacts to Matthew Tkachuk and William Nylander’s discussion ahead of Game 5 vs Panthers

After the tense ending of Game 4 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, a heated exchange took place between Matthew Tkachuk and William Nylander—two stars going head-to-head in a fiery series. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube had a striking reaction.

Tensions are running high in the second-round series tied 2-2 between the Panthers and the Maple Leafs. The altercation began after Max Domi’s hit on Aleksander Barkov in Game 4, when Tkachuk told Nylander he was going to get him.

Nylander responded off the ice in front of the cameras, sending a warning to Tkachuk. “I mean, that’s what he does. He’ll probably do whatever he can to get a player off their game. Next game’s going to be a fun one,” he said. The whole situation was defused by a clever reaction from Berube.

Berube’s reaction to the altercation between Tkachuk and Nylander

“(Nylander) probably didn’t even hear him. He doesn’t even hear me,” Berube reacted with a joke, according to Maple Leaf Hot Stove. The response was notable, considering he could have taken a stronger stance. However, drawing from his experience, Toronto‘s head coach knows that the best approach is to cool things down.

William Nylander and Matthew Tkachuk in 2023

Berube joked that Nylander probably didn’t even hear Tkachuk’s comments, downplaying the issue and emphasizing the focus his team needs heading into the crucial Game 5. This attitude reflects Berube’s confidence that his players won’t be affected by outside provocations and will stay locked in on the game.

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NHL News: William Nylander fires back after Matthew Tkachuk’s strong warning before Maple Leafs Game 5 vs Panthers

Berube wants to see more discipline from his team

When asked if he would like to see more discipline from his team on the ice, the Maple Leafs head coach was clear. “Yeah, from our whole team after the last game. We went to the box five times. It is a lot. We talked about it today. We can’t go to the box that many times, especially the four in the first period. It takes your momentum away. It takes certain guys out of their rhythm on the bench. We’re overusing other guys. It is not a good recipe,” Berube said.