Photo: NBCSN
After scoring an empty-net goal to 56.9 seconds left in Game 1 in the second-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets, Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans got rocked by Jets captain Mark Schiefele and had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher.
Evans wrapped around the net before Schiefele leveled him with a high hit that appeared to knock him out. Evans, who turned 25 on Wednesday, appeared to be unconscious after taking the hit.
Mark Scheifele was given a 5-minute game misconduct for this hit on Jake Evans #GoJetsGo #GoHabsGo
Thoughts on the hit?
— SiriusXM NHL Network Radio (@SiriusXMNHL) June 3, 2021
A scrum broke out after the hit with many of the Canadiens players on the ice going after Schiefele, who has never been suspended in his NHL career. Schiefele was assessed a game misconduct.
According to Canadiens forward Corey Perry, Evans was not talking but could move around before leaving the ice.
Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme said that Evans stayed at Bell MTS Place and was doing better but still being evaluated. He called the hit by Schiefele “useless” and is confident that the NHL will handle any supplemental discipline but would not go into further detail.
A scary scene in Winnipeg as Jake Evans was stretchered off the ice after taking a hit from Mark Scheifele. pic.twitter.com/XFNlzcdy5I
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 3, 2021
The Canadiens won Game 1 by a score of 5-3. Game 2 at Bell MTS Place will be Friday (7:30 PM ET, USA).
Joel Edmundson comments on Mark Scheifele’s hit on Jake Evans. pic.twitter.com/kPn3vu0DMf
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 3, 2021
By Harrison Brown
Good lord. 😳
I’m gonna say that’s good for 4 games in the DPS roulette game. Was every bit as bad as Kadri, but without the prior history (I think, could be wrong there). Given the justification for 8 for Kadri was doubling the previous suspension for him in the playoffs (and that based on the arbitrators ruling reducing Wilsons for the NHL going beyond 2x) , 4 seems like the right number. Clearly a headshot. no attempt to pull up with the puck already in the net and just unnecessary and dangerous. I’d be shocked if they made an example out of Scheifele, but I also can’t see him just getting 1-2 games unless they really want to see Montreal go nuts ala the Rangers, except with WAY more justification.