I think, or rather I hope that I don’t need to go into too much detail, regarding the events that transpired in Game 1 of the Montreal Canadiens’ second-round series against the Winnipeg Jets.
For any of the numerous Habs fans who happened to catch the game on TV or have checked the recent news updates with their morning coffee, there’s not much further explanation required into the exact incident that transpired between Jets “star” center Mark Scheifele, and Canadiens center Jake Evans.
I use the word “star” there with inverted commas because quite frankly, I feel as though Scheifele isn’t deserving of that tagline anymore. The second Jets team’s incarnation took him as their first first-round pick in 2011. Since then, Scheifele has been a major component of their offence. While his development progressed slowly, he’s gradually turned into a talented, often deadly two-way center, now in, (to re-use a line from one of my prior pieces) both senses of the word.
Again, I hope that there isn’t too much catching up required as to what transpired behind the Jets net as the clock ticked down on the Montreal Canadiens 5-3 Game 1 win, but just in case, I’ll quickly recap. As an icing was nullified following a Canadiens clear into the Jets end, Evans (who, up until this point, had been thriving under increased first-line minutes) went to quickly tuck the puck into the open cage on his backhand.
Scheifele, who had played a role similar to Phillip Danault in the Jets first-round series against the Edmonton Oilers, proceeded to, at full speed, make contact with Evans in a way that was extremely difficult to watch, similar to John Tavares’s injury in the Montreal Canadiens first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It’s something I don’t wish to describe again. All that has to be said, is that I wish the best for Evans, and hope to see him get back on the ice as quickly as possible.
Now, following on from that, I understand that there’s a lot to dissect and take from this incident, and quite frankly I wish to be as concise and non-offensive in my language as possible, as to hopefully not stoop to the same level of frustration and recklessness as Scheifele. I’ve done my best to pick and choose my words carefully when addressing this, as I do not wish to further fan any flames that may exist outside of the direct events that transpired.
5-3 Game 1 win for the Montreal Canadiens aside, Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele’s actions towards Habs center Jake Evans must be addressed.
I’m sure most have seen the backlash and criticism that has been lobbed at the Toronto Maple Leafs since their first-round collapse against the Montreal Canadiens. Criticism has, unfortunately, descended into something far more worrying and irredeemable, such as the numerous threats directed at Leafs’ center Mitch Marner on his Instagram account.
Now, again, directly leading on from that, I do not wish for Scheifele to receive anything similar, from any Canadiens fans, hockey fans, or just general fans and people. In the end, all that will do is lead to increased controversy, stupidity, and further, more dangerous consequences, so please, refrain from doing anything similar to what players like Marner have been receiving. Now, with that being said, Scheifele is not removed from blame simply because this situation comes in the direct/continued aftermath of a number of other similarly controversial situations.
As the title states, what Scheifele did to Evans at the end of Game 1, was completely, totally and utterly, pathetic, cowardly, dangerous, and idiotic. I don’t care if you’re a Jets fan, or a bitter Leafs fan, or just someone rooting against the Habs. In order to improve the NHL’s ability to properly judge plays like this, we, as hockey fans, writers, or just people, need to do the same. And this play is, without question, dangerous, and above all else, something that should be met with a suspension.
I get that Scheifele’s emotions could’ve gotten the better of him as the Jets got thoroughly outplayed by Montreal Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme’s continually improving system, but regardless of any lack of clarity or reason that results from such things, plays like this, need to exist exterior of all of that. This is a dangerous play, this is a reckless play, this is a disgusting play, and this is, once again, a play that no one wants to see.
Look to any professional hockey league you know/follow or heck, even play in. Seriously, look to any league. The LNAH, the ECHL, the AHL, the KHL, the NLA, the SPHL, even now-defunct leagues like the UHL, WPHL, or WCHL. As a person who has been continually fascinated by the burgeoning landscape that was mid-90s to early 2000s minor league hockey, much of these leagues were characterized by hard-hitting, fight-filled play.
Players in these leagues weren’t paid much and played for the love of the game above anything else, and even still. In any league you can think of, any league you’ve played in, a play like Mark Scheifele’s would be seen, without excuse or compare, as, a dirty, dangerous play that, as stated (not only in this piece but my Tavares one as well) no one wants to see. I get if you’re a Jets fan, that you’re looking for a way to view Scheifele’s and the Jets’ Game 1 performance, in a more positive light, but as hockey fans and, just people, we need to recognize these kinds of incidents for what they are. Dangerous, reckless, and with a complete and total intent to injure.
Again, I am wishing no ill faith on Mark Scheifele, nor am I wishing he receives the same backlash as players like Marner did. He doesn’t deserve that, no one deserves that. But does he deserve a suspension? Yes. Does he deserve whatever on-ice punishment he receives should he not get a suspension (God forbid) or come back before the series is over? Yes, and I hope I’ve made myself clear with that. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this is more than just a hockey game at this point, folks. This is a dangerous incident, done with an intent to injure, and needs to have the proper consequences or follow-up that comes with that.
As we look towards the rest of this series, with this stain in mind on what should’ve been a satisfying Game 1 win for the Canadiens, there will doubtlessly be a continually aggressive, physical rhetoric that follows from what was, well and truly, a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad play.
Regardless of your favourite team, or favourite player, there’s a lot more to this sport than just the score, and with incidents like these, the score, outcome, and favourite team or player, should be the last thing on anyone’s minds.