Obviously, Tkachuk has become known for his antics over the years, antagonizing his opponents on a nightly basis with a series of unrelenting taunts, cheap shots and whacks after the whistle. However, he can also back it up with his tremendous play.
During Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, however, it was Chris Kreider who agitated Tkachuk by reaching out and plucking Tkachuk's mouthguard right out of his mouth during a post-whistle scrum at the start of the 3rd period.
Rather than tossing it back at him, or throwing it somewhere on the ice, Kreider opted, instead, to toss it into the crowd, ensuring that Tkachuk would not see it again. That's playoff hockey, baby!
It's worth mentioning that the mouthpiece toss should have been an automatic game misconduct, per the NHL rulebook, but we all know that gets thrown out in the playoffs.
Unfortunately for the Rangers, the Panthers maintained their mental edge in this one, winning Game 4 in OT to knot the series up at 2-2, setting up Game 5 back in New York. We can only assume that the rivalry will continue between Kreider and Tkachuk in The Big Apple.
