Matthew Tkachuk trolls Maple Leafs fans after knockout Game 5

If you can believe it, the Florida Panthers actually entered the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the lowest possible-ranked team, and their reward for barely scratching their way into the annual dance was a date with the 65-victory Boston Bruins. Not only did Boston overcome a 3-1 series deficit, but they also were able to shock the Bruins on home ice in overtime of Game 7 to advance to the second round in what is arguably the biggest upset in postseason history. 

Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs were able to exercise some serious demons with their first Round 1 postseason victory in 19 years, finally taking down the Tampa Bay Lightning in order to move to Round 2 for the first time since guys like Joe Nieuwendyk, Mats Sundin, Ed Belfour, Tie Domie and Darcy Tucker were suiting up for the iconic franchise. 

However, Toronto's magic would soon run out agains the upstart Panthers, who earned their first Eastern Conference Final ticket since 1996 with a five game series victory capped by last night's overtime game-winning goal from Nick Cousins. 

There was plenty to be made of a throng of Leafs fans chanting "We Want Florida" prior to this series beginning, and you can bet that it provided some pretty good bulletin board material for the Panthers. And being the super pest that he is, forward Matthew Tkachuk, who was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player during the regular season, decided to remind Leafs fans of that now that his team is moving on. 

'I don't think they want Florida that much anymore," Tkachuk said after the game. "I wasn't hearing many of those after that game, and that might be the best part."

Hey, to the victors go the spoils. Tkachuk has earned the right to throw that in the faces of Leafs fans, who got a bit too big for their britches after their first playoff win in nearly two decades.

Florida moves on to face the Carolina Hurricanes, while the Leafs head into the offseason with more questions than answers.