I'll defend Scheifele. He's the only one coming back to backcheck at that speed and hope to prevent a goal. The puck is in a fraction of a second earlier, he's chosen to take the body instead of the puck with hopes that Evans will completely back off. I don't like to see the player taken off on a stretcher, but every single angle I've seen shows the initial contact was not with the head and his skates were on the ice. Like Pomo Said, its a big hit.
What surprises me the most is the biased reporting on hockeybuzz. The eklund story is so biased and lacks all of the facts. I respect that its his opinion, but my opinion is that reporting needs to include all of the facts or we are left with nothing more than a sports page that resembles the reporting of the CBC.

It doesn't change the fact that a player got hurt, that sucks and I'd be very upset if it was a jet. But there's nothing to suspend here. I suspect he will be suspended because of optics on ice, the nhl player safety department is a clown show anyway.

By reason of some of the comments I've seen, Buff should have been suspended every few games.

Evans was already back at the hotel this morning feeling much better. He will have to go thru concussion protocol. Sheif might get a game or two at most. It was a clean hit. Everyone paid a lot of attention to Sheif and his stick reach but no one has said anything about the extreme cut at high speed that Evans was able to make to get the wrap around. It was remarkable. I truly believe that MS thought he would get there first and did not anticipate such a skilled play from Evans. It was not intentional by any means. MS was simply trying to stop a goal from happening in a one-goal game. If Evans didn't score a split second earlier then there would not even have been a penalty and play might have continued for a bit .
- jetsnation

Fully agree with your assessment.

Like you say, a split second. These players have to make quick decisions at high speed. At that time, the Jets were still hoping to regain the puck and hopefully send the game to over-time.

Scheifele was unfortunately a second to late to stop the puck, and instead made the hit. Glad to hear that Evans is feeling better.

4 Games.

4 Games.
- Heywood Jablome

Yes . Ridiculous for a first-time questionable offence during playoff hockey. NHL backed Habs get their way. Tkachuk got nothing last year for a knee hit on Schief. Same with Tom Wilson and his deliberate head slams to the ice. Jets got screwed !

If your Evans and want to make a vulnerable play like that then you need to be ready for the hit. NHL is entering the woke/ cancel culture era where it's increasingly becoming a sissy no-hit league.

Will no one defend Scheifelie ?

NHL officiating is absurd. In a net from scrum you can horse-collar, face wash, cross check, and pound a guy's head into the ice multiple times, and if said guy (Scheifelie) retaliates he gets a roughing penalty.

Did Evans think the Jets would let him just stroll down and deposit an empty net goal in a 4 - 3 game?

Sheifs obviously thought he had a chance to stop Evans; it was very close. He did let up, but finished the check with his forward momentum.

It was not a charge (he let up), it was a desperate defensive play.

The hypocrisy of the Montreal Canadiens and the politically correct media in general is apparent (to me anyway).

Any player would have made the same play under the circumstances.
Prevent that goal and Scheifelie is a hero, penalty be damned!

Disclosure: I am not a Jet's fan.
- Camosack

Disclosure: you are wrong

Yes . Ridiculous for a first-time questionable offence during playoff hockey. NHL backed Habs get their way. Tkachuk got nothing last year for a knee hit on Schief. Same with Tom Wilson and his deliberate head slams to the ice. Jets got screwed !

If your Evans and want to make a vulnerable play like that then you need to be ready for the hit. NHL is entering the woke/ cancel culture era where it's increasingly becoming a sissy no-hit league.
- jetsnation

The people want this to be a sissy league and hits are a part of the game comments are comical. Yes hits are obviously a part of the game but You’re just generalizing something that is not black and white, and this is has been made obvious by the rules. The fact that you say Evan’s wants to make a vulnerable play is as ignorant as saying Schiefle didn’t make a dangerous play. A dangerous play that was also illegal as stated by the rules, it was text book charging. If after watching the play you don’t want to call it charging, then call it unsportsmanlike. It was totally unnecessary and extremely dangerous. Anyone who watches or has played hockey knows that generally the guy with the puck is the most vulnerable person on the ice. Even if he performed the wrap around with his head up , he’s still vulnerable, he has to be in order to make a scoring play. Any shooter has their head and eyes aimed at the goal typically, and while in motion are clearly more vulnerable. Should players not shoot anymore. STOP it. I like big hits as much as anyone, and if that’s how the players want to treat each other by hitting each other at full speed when someone’s head is down and any other reckless BS then so be it. But as long as it’s in the rules and if the players want to have a better quality of life after playing, then it can’t and shouldn’t happen.

Yes . Ridiculous for a first-time questionable offence during playoff hockey. NHL backed Habs get their way. Tkachuk got nothing last year for a knee hit on Schief. Same with Tom Wilson and his deliberate head slams to the ice. Jets got screwed !

If your Evans and want to make a vulnerable play like that then you need to be ready for the hit. NHL is entering the woke/ cancel culture era where it's increasingly becoming a sissy no-hit league.
- jetsnation

The NHL wants the Jets out of the playoffs as soon as possible, if the tables were turned and it was a Jet player getting cranked by another teams 1C with no prior record there's no chance that guy would get anymore then a two game suspension.

4 Games.
- Heywood Jablome

Fully deserved ... case closed.

The NHL wants the Jets out of the playoffs as soon as possible, if the tables were turned and it was a Jet player getting cranked by another teams 1C with no prior record there's no chance that guy would get anymore then a two game suspension.
- JetFuel

If this was the case they would have called lots of penalties on the Jets during the Oilers series. This is all small town insecure thinking.

I like to think positively about the entire situation, with a few guys out, it gives other guys a chance to shine. I believe in the draft and develop strategy and I am sure there are other guys like Vesalainen, Harkins, and Gustafson to name a few that are just chomping at the bit to jump in the line-up to show us what they got!

GO JETS GO!!!

I'm an American who is from New York and LOVES HOCKEY! and I'm a Hockey fan 1st who roots for the N.Y. Rangers. The suspension for Scheifele is a joke and a disgrace to hockey, along with help for Montreal to win the series! In my 58 years of following hockey I have NEVER seen a first time offender, who's a star player get such a severe penalty. How can a player who has NEVER had a late hit in his career receive such a harsh penalty? Four playoff games is equal to 8-10 regular season games, and someone needs to show a time in this league when such a thing has happened. Kadrie had 5 previous suspensions and got 8 games. This is shameful and a blackeye on the NHL. Colin Cambell needs to be fired for this disgraceful injustice. I am in shock and CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

For the 1st time in league history....4 games for skating too far. Joke. Should have been 2 games max for bad optics. I hope the Jets win in 5 and Scheiffle is well rested for the 3rd round.

For the 1st time in league history....4 games for skating too far. Joke. Should have been 2 games max for bad optics. I hope the Jets win in 5 and Scheiffle is well rested for the 3rd round.

For the 1st time in league history....4 games for skating too far. Joke. Should have been 2 games max for bad optics. I hope the Jets win in 5 and Scheiffle is well rested for the 3rd round.
- WendelClark82

Right on man! You are on the Ultimate train. This has been my prediction all along.

If this was the case they would have called lots of penalties on the Jets during the Oilers series. This is all small town insecure thinking.

I like to think positively about the entire situation, with a few guys out, it gives other guys a chance to shine. I believe in the draft and develop strategy and I am sure there are other guys like Vesalainen, Harkins, and Gustafson to name a few that are just chomping at the bit to jump in the line-up to show us what they got!

GO JETS GO!!!
- TheUltimateJet

Its not small town insecure thinking, it's not being naive.

Hypothetical scenario, if this had been Suzuki hitting say Harkins or Lewis like Schiefele hit Evans do you think he gets 4 games, no (frank)ing chance that happens.

I'd love to see Gus, Vesalainen and Harkins get a chance but Maurice is going to Maurice, we both know that.

Its not small town insecure thinking, it's not being naive.

Hypothetical scenario, if this had been Suzuki hitting say Harkins or Lewis like Schiefele hit Evans do you think he gets 4 games, no (frank)ing chance that happens.

I'd love to see Gus, Vesalainen and Harkins get a chance but Maurice is going to Maurice, we both know that.
- JetFuel

Wonder how many games Connor McDavid would have gotten for the same play? Or maybe it would just be "a hockey play?"

Wonder how many games Connor McDavid would have gotten for the same play? Or maybe it would just be "a hockey play?"
- grahamzky

Scheifele like McDavid is a top 10 center in the league. I do not think there would have been a major difference in suspensions.

Watching TSN and Sportsnet and seeing the play over and over again. The puck is already in the net when Scheifele hits Evans. I don’t see what hockey play was occurring there. Plus Scheifele’s stick is off the ice. I love Scheifele and like him I have made mistakes at work too. I have paid for all of mine, which include getting fired one time.

One thing for sure I am hoping like me, Scheifele comes back with that edge. I think he’s going to rip apart the semi’s. I also think his absence this round creates that necessary vacuum that PLD has needed to get really acclimated to this team.

I am more convinced now than ever before that we are going to win the cup!!!

Wonder how many games Connor McDavid would have gotten for the same play? Or maybe it would just be "a hockey play?"
- grahamzky

Yup and all the hockey talking heads would be saying something like: "That's playoff hockey, gotta keep your head up!"

I'm not defending Scheifele, definitely should've gotten a game or two but four games for a first offender is too much.

Just wanted to say the league got this wrong.

If you wanna call a charge, fine. In no way is this hit suspendable.

All these analyst talking like “he didn’t make a play for the puck”. Sorry, but in hockey there are other ways of getting the puck off your opponent…like…playing the BODY.

Not to mention it’s his first suspension…feels like mtl pressure. Reminiscent of when Gryba hit Ellers on a clean hit..but because Ellers didn’t see it coming (and was bleeding from his face hitting the ice) Gryba got 2 games.

Anyways, hope you guys overcome this hurdle.

Its not small town insecure thinking, it's not being naive.

Hypothetical scenario, if this had been Suzuki hitting say Harkins or Lewis like Schiefele hit Evans do you think he gets 4 games, no (frank)ing chance that happens.

I'd love to see Gus, Vesalainen and Harkins get a chance but Maurice is going to Maurice, we both know that.
- JetFuel

How the frank would you know Suzuki would not get the same punishment? What kind of crystal ball do you have?

The NHL wants the Jets out of the playoffs as soon as possible, if the tables were turned and it was a Jet player getting cranked by another teams 1C with no prior record there's no chance that guy would get anymore then a two game suspension.
- JetFuel

You sound like a crybaby Canucks or Leafs fan

Wonder how many games Connor McDavid would have gotten for the same play? Or maybe it would just be "a hockey play?"
- grahamzky

I don't know McDavid has been suspended already for a hit to the head.

Wonder how many games Connor McDavid would have gotten for the same play? Or maybe it would just be "a hockey play?"
- grahamzky

It's a moot point. 99% of players would have swatted the puck away to keep the game alive rather than just focusing on killing the guy.

I honestly can't believe no one in the Jets fan base is pissed at Scheifle for being selfish and quitting on a 1 goal game with a minute left. It's more fun playing the victim card?

You sound like a crybaby Canucks or Leafs fan
- GPHawksfan

Oh (frank) off, was it a suspension worthy hit? Sure but no chance a first time offender should get 4 games! I don't even like Schiefele.. Lol

It's a moot point. 99% of players would have swatted the puck away to keep the game alive rather than just focusing on killing the guy.

I honestly can't believe no one in the Jets fan base is pissed at Scheifle for being selfish and quitting on a 1 goal game with a minute left. It's more fun playing the victim card?
- MacPatty

That's the thing, there's a video going around that breaks the play down pretty good. Guy even breaks it down clip by clip, Scheifele only needed to stick his stick out maybe 2 1/2 feet and could have poked checked Evans as he brings the puck around the goal post. He was never gonna stop him by hitting him.
https://youtu.be/XxBL85rr0jI

It's a moot point. 99% of players would have swatted the puck away to keep the game alive rather than just focusing on killing the guy.

I honestly can't believe no one in the Jets fan base is pissed at Scheifle for being selfish and quitting on a 1 goal game with a minute left. It's more fun playing the victim card?
- MacPatty

Watch the play again, Evans made an exceptional play to catch up to the puck and turn for the wraparound. Scheifele was expecting to play the body in the corner, things happened fast and he chose poorly. If that is a charge does that mean it is no onger legal to play the body on a dump in? 1 or 2 for hit to the head- yes. four playoff games is unprecedented for a first time offender.