The Winnipeg Jets lost two important players to injury in Saturday’s Game 1 against the Calgary Flames and head coach Paul Maurice said both Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine will see specialists on Sunday.
Scheifele left the 4-1 loss to the Flames early in the first period after a collision against the boards with Matthew Tkachuk. The Jets’ star centre was in visible pain immediately after the collision and had to be helped off the ice because he couldn’t put any weight on his left leg.
Laine left the game mid-way through the third period holding his left hand after a collision with Flames captain Mark Giordano and winger Sam Bennett. The injury occurred behind the Flames net when the Jets winger collided with both Gioradno and Bennett in quick succession. Laine finished his shift, was caught on camera speaking to a trainer about his hand, and then went back to the Jets’ locker room and didn’t return.
After the game, Tkachuk was remorseful discussing his collision with Scheifele saying he “felt terrible about it.”
“It’s just such an unfortunate play and such an accident. I don’t feel good about it,” Tkachuk added.
Maurice, on the other hand, saw things differently and called Tkachuk’s actions in the collision with Scheifele “intentional” and “filthy.”
“He could have cut his achilles. He could have ended the man’s career. It’s an absolutely filthy, disgusting hit,” the coach said.
The series resumes Monday.
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