Tkachuk: Panthers 'having so much fun' during postseason tear

Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers are soaking up every second of their six-game playoff winning streak.

The Cats have a chance to sweep the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday and punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 1996.

"We have a very serious team where guys really want to do well," Tkachuk said, per NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin. "But I mean, tie game, late in the third, we're enjoying it on the bench, laughing, smiling, just looking around at the moment that we're in and just really, really enjoying it. We're having so much fun."

Tkachuk said he believes part of the reason they're able to stay so loose is because there's no pressure on them. After all, Florida snuck into the playoffs as the Eastern Conference's second wild-card team, and everyone seemed to write the club off when it trailed the 65-win Boston Bruins 3-1 in the opening round.

The Panthers also entered Round 2 as a major underdog against the Leafs, who were riding the high of their first series win in 19 years against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

"We don't really feel a ton of high pressure, I don't think," Tkachuk said. "There's no sense in feeling pressure for us. Eighth seed, limped in. We've been fighting our way for the whole year. It's just about having fun. Why play if you can't enjoy it, right?

"There's no pressure on us. It's just about making sure that we're enjoying it."

It's easy to see why Tkachuk, specifically, is playing without a worry in the world. He's emerged as a favorite for the Conn Smythe Trophy, as he sits tied for second in playoff scoring with 15 points in 10 games. Tkachuk's also posted a team-best 61.57% five-on-five expected goal share, per Natural Stat Trick, and he's been a physical presence with 36 hits.