Tied at two games apiece, the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs head back to Canada preparing for what is now a best-of-three. In a sense, it’s a brand new series kicking off Wednesday. But that’s not without the emotional build up of what was a fiery first four games.

As Florida evened up the series last Sunday in Sunrise, Matthew Tkachuk was shown on the bench trash talking William Nylander, threatening retaliation for the Leafs’ late game antics.

Nylander addressed Tkachuk’s warning after Game 4, saying, “He’ll probably do whatever he can do to get a player off their game, but yeah, next game’s going to be a fun one.”

Now as the dust has settled on Sunday’s tight contest, Toronto is back to practice with a well attended optional skate Tuesday morning. Speaking to media after practice, Craig Berube joked he’s not too concerned about Nylander coming out scared for Game 5 after Tkachuk’s chirps.

“He probably didn’t hear him. He doesn’t hear me,” Berube said.

More than just a light hearted joke on what he likely views as a low stakes moment, Berube’s comment can also be interpreted as a part of the Leafs bigger picture of tuning out the outside noise in sticking to their game. Known in the past for collapsing under pressure, Berube has worked to instill a new, tougher mentality in this group. It also speaks to Nylander’s strengths under Berube, after the head coach joked last week that the key to coaching him is to “just leave him alone.”

Nylander has been one of the stars of the show for the Leafs in this series so far, with six points through the first four games. Along with the rest of the team, he was silenced off the scoresheet last Sunday, despite some great chances. In the face of Tkachuk’s taunts, the Swedish winger will be looking to come out hot in Game 5 as he searches for his first goal in three games after five goals over the previous three.

It’s worth nothing the last time he was held off the scoresheet this postseason was in Game 5 against the Ottawa Senators, and he responded the following match with two goals and an assist to propel Toronto to the second round. In this fiery series, he has the chance to be a difference maker to help the Leafs claw their way past the vicious Panthers.