After days of anticipation, the moment has come, as the Toronto Maple Leafs will host the Florida Panthers for Game 1 of their second-round series Monday night. Speaking to media ahead of tonight’s contest, former Panther Oliver Ekman-Larsson previewed what is sure to be a fiery battle.

“Just a hard, heavy series, that’s what it’s all about in the playoffs,” Ekman-Larsson said. “Go deep, that’s what you have to do every single night, and that’s what we’re expecting from our group. So that’s what we’re focusing on.”

A veteran of the league, the 33-year-old played one season with the Florida Panthers last year, becoming a leader on their blue line en route to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. Steven Lorentz and Anthony Stolarz were also members of that championship-winning group, now bringing that experience Toronto’s way as they get their second chance in three years at knocking Florida out in Round Two.

“Yeah, that’s the kind of thing I’ve been trying to help the guys out with,” Ekman-Larsson said of his knowledge of this Panthers group. “It’s obviously a different year, and they’re a great team, but when you have that experience you try to pass that along to your teammates, trying to help in any way I can.”

While he was relatively mum about what that entails specifically, he talked about touching up on details while focusing on the big picture, and that by and large “it’s gonna come down to hard work and doing the little things.”. It’s true, experience can only take you so far.

After defeating Brady Tkachuk in the Battle of Ontario, yet another Tkachuk awaits Toronto in Round Two. Matthew Tkachuk was hurt through the end of the regular season, but has been strong to start the playoffs so far, and Ekman-Larsson gave props to his former teammate turned division rival.

“I think everybody knows what type of player he is and what he’s trying to do there,” he said. “He’s an unbelievable player.”

Toronto head coach Craig Berube also had praise for the star Panthers forward Monday.

“Very intelligent player,” Berube said. “Very good around the net, he’s made his living there. He can pass, he can score, he can do a lot of things. He’s a very good player.”

Much like Brady, Matthew is known for his pesky, physical style of play, especially in the postseason. Asked if he knows how to get under Tkachuk’s skin, Ekman-Larsson coyly responded, “We’ll see.”

We’ll see, indeed. Puck drop is set for 8PM tonight from Scotiabank Arena, as the two giants of the Atlantic kick off their battle for a spot in the Conference Final.