Tkachuk sends clear threat to Maple Leafs after hit on Barkov.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi was looking to send a message at the end of Game 4 against the Florida Panthers on Sunday night, and it seems that the Panthers already have made up their minds about how they will respond to that message.

It didn't take long after Domi drove Panthers star Aleksander Barkov into the boards for the Panthers to respond with Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk quickly promising revenge, even though he was stuck on the bench when the incident occurred at the end of the game. Tkachuk could be seen leaning over the Panthers bench and pointing his stick in the direction of the Maple Leafs bench, but his message was being directed at one man in particular.

Although he hadn't been involved in the incident at the end of the game, Tkachuk made it clear that he was placing a target firmly on the back of Maple Leafs star forward William Nylander. I suspect that Tkachuk felt that Barkov, a player who isn't usually involved in the rough stuff, being targeted stepped over a line and as a result he has now decided to target a player on the Maple Leafs side of the ice that fits a similar profile.

Although it was difficult to make out exactly what Tkachuk was saying to Nylander over the sound of the crowd, the pointing of his stick at Nylander coupled with two words we could hear clearly left no doubt about the fact that Tkachuk was indeed directing a threat Nylander's way.

"Next game," said Tkachuk repeatedly.

Here is a look at the exchange between the two benches from Sunday night:

Who knows what will come of this in Game 5, but it is going to be must-see TV for fans who have been enjoying the Stanley Cup playoffs thus far.