How does he get off the ice without someone fighting him?

As I said it was unnecessary to level him.
Since Evans was in offensive zone and Shieflie was in neutral zone how is he supposed to make a play without skating?
- Thornton22

I'm not saying there was a way for him to do it (although I am of the opinion he could have poke checked instead of taking his stick away).

I'm just saying that even if that was his only option does not excuse the act - it's like hooking a player to not give a 2v1, it might be the smart play but it's still called.

That's why I'm calling it reckless and not dirty, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that he was making a defensive play and not trying to injure, but doing so WAS dangerous and should be punished.

What RULE did he break? The answer is NONE. He stopped skating at the top of the circle. Primary point of contact was the chest. The time between the puck leaving Evans stick and the initiation of contact was less than .2 seconds. No RULES were broken here. If you don't like it, maybe try TennisBuzz instead of HockeyBuzz because that was a clean hit.
- Kcannon98

It's called charging...

I'm not saying there was a way for him to do it (although I am of the opinion he could have poke checked instead of taking his stick away).

I'm just saying that even if that was his only option does not excuse the act - it's like hooking a player to not give a 2v1, it might be the smart play but it's still called.

That's why I'm calling it reckless and not dirty, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that he was making a defensive play and not trying to injure, but doing so WAS dangerous and should be punished.
- jugkope

what difference does it make? intention should not be considered here, it was dangerous and unnecessary no matter how you look at it

Wow reading all the comments is amazing.
1. Scheifele doesn’t try to prevent the goal. He had plenty of time to play the puck with is stick but he does not. Instead he slows down to time himself properly, get the shoulder down and hit to the head.
2. Scheifele was already frustrated all game, already had a 2 minutes for roughing Ben Chariot no helmet and vulnerable. It shows he got dominated by emotion.
Anyone saying he did that to prevent a goal should stop watching hockey. Go see the replay it s undeniable he goes for Evans head.
- Cloutov

This 100%. Aside from the fact that it was charging, it was certainly not accidental. Don't even watch Evans or the puck in the video and just look at Scheifele. His footwork gives absolutely no indication that it was accidental. The timing of his strides clearly screams out that the hit was his intention the entire time from entering the zone. He made no serious effort to play the puck, which btw to all the people saying he trying to prevent a goal, you don't stop a wrap around by taking the extra time to hit the player.

Realistically the series is a bit much. It was dirty, vicious and unnecessary but those three things are totally fine within the rulebook. Guys make hits that fit into those categories all the time and get away with it. The main thing to me is that he was vulnerable and caught his head. The head injury aftermath is also a consideration because the NHL only seems to suspend players if there is major injury for some reason. I'm thinking 3 games.

He stopped taking strides at the top of the circle. Rule 42 doesn't apply. You can't expect a guy to stop skating at center ice. He skated into the zone to make a play, decided to play the body, and slowed up to make it a legal hit (which it was). If he continued his stride through the initiation of contact, yes, Rule 42 would apply. He stopped skating WELL before the contact was initiated. But it's the Habs so he'll probably get 50 games, an assault charge, and they'll alter the CBA to fine him a few million dollars.
- Kcannon98

Actually, the Habs have yet to actually have ANY favourable encounters with DOPS. We've been called for infractions, and rightfully so. But have YET to see any high hits on our players called. But you're of course well versed in all things, so you know this already.
- Darksyde

The Habs get favorable treatment from officials during games almost on a nightly basis. Like I said, the NHL and the Habs are one in the same. It's almost as bad the relationship between the NHL and Sid.

The Habs get favorable treatment from officials during games almost on a nightly basis. Like I said, the NHL and the Habs are one in the same. It's almost as bad the relationship between the NHL and Sid.
- Kcannon98

In other words, unless it goes how YOU want, it's a rigged game. Gotcha, champ. Go have your pudding, then get ready for nap time, ok?

How does he get off the ice without someone fighting him?
- Gerk

Million dollar question. Scheifele should have no teeth left in his head after having to literally fight his way out of the building.

Maybe you should read the rule book?


"Charging is a penalty in ice hockey. Rule 42 of the NHL rulebook dictates that charging "shall mean the actions of a player or goalkeeper who, as a result of distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner."
- DraftandDestroy

This. It’s a clear charge. If Evans doesn’t fall awkwardly and hit his head a major was enough. Due to the result and the situation he will get a suspension. I’d say 2-3 games.

The suspension should be nothing less than the rest of the season! After the game Edmonson said they want to wait for the league before taking care of business on their own! Paul Maurice is the biggest (fill in the blank)_________ in the world and should be suspended for the rest of the series for his comments!!

It's called charging...
- MnGump

Oh THAT?! C'mon!

what difference does it make? intention should not be considered here, it was dangerous and unnecessary no matter how you look at it
- Pat1993

It makes a difference on if the league wants to say ''be more careful'' or ''we are watching you''. It gives a reputation.

''It was an accident'' vs ''You meant to do it'' IS very important, maybe not on an event-specific occasion but on the long run.

How does he get off the ice without someone fighting him?
- Gerk

Weber tried... but he was stopped before he could get his hand on Scheifele, fortunately for him.

Legal hit or not, there was no intent to stop the puck or separate the puck from a player, his only intent is to injure someone, whoever that was (he was clearly frustrated). The fact that he stopped skating at he faceoff circle says it all: if he actually want to stop the goal, he would have skated all the way through. But he didn't, he just set his target on a guy, not on the puck. The puck was already in the net when he made his hit, so don't tell me his intent was to break the play, here.

Sean Avery sure has a lot of alt accounts here....

Million dollar question. Scheifele should have no teeth left in his head after having to literally fight his way out of the building.
- glove_was_stuck

Starting a fight in the last 5 minutes of play is an automatic 1 game suspension, if memory serves. They're not that dumb, and were more worried for their teammate than they were with getting revenge.

It makes a difference on if the league wants to say ''be more careful'' or ''we are watching you''. It gives a reputation.

''It was an accident'' vs ''You meant to do it'' IS very important, maybe not on an event-specific occasion but on the long run.
- jugkope

completely disagree, you can't prove in any way someone's true intentions. judgement should be made solely on actions

Eklund: Scheifele Should Get Rest of Series for His Hit on Evans. Weigh in. Buzz@1
- Eklund

you are wrong on this one


and if the hit was a fraction of a second earlier

there is no goal


I mean the job is to prevent him from scoring the goal



the league wants it to be a fast pace games and stuff like this is going to happen from time to time


it's not like scheifele has a history of this

More Habs fan emotion. You know a rule wasn't broken but you also know that you have the NHL in your pocket more than Crosby does so they'll probably end up charging Schiefele with ag assault.
- Kcannon98

How (frank)ing stupid are you?? It’s quite clearly a CHARGE as per the rule book.

completely disagree, you can't prove in any way someone's true intentions. judgement should be made solely on actions
- Pat1993

Of course you can. See Bertuzzi and Moore. You might not be able to empirically prove it, but there are signs.

The Habs get favorable treatment from officials during games almost on a nightly basis. Like I said, the NHL and the Habs are one in the same. It's almost as bad the relationship between the NHL and Sid.
- Kcannon98

You said he stopped skating at the top of the circle, and didnt bother to play the puck, which means he had no intention of trying to stop the goal. If he didnt stop skating hard, tried to poke check and play the body, then maybe its a good play. He went after the kid. Frustration, unnecessary and deserving of 2-4 games in my opinion.

Unless of course we go back to straight wooden sticks, small goalie pads, no helmets and clutching and grabbing - then good play.

My problem with all of post season play is the conditional and/or subjective calling of penalties period....

I mean seriously, blatant slashes, trips, cross checks etc... go uncalled for periods at a time and then all of a sudden some arbitrary penalty gets called one way or the other.

IMO this method of uneven calls and refs swallowing whistles feeds the vitriol these guys have for each other on the ice and tensions grow higher and higher, then you end up with a play like the Scheiflle hit. Whether or not the intent of that play, it was unnecessary and reckless. He wasn't going to stop the goal from happening so why fly in and destroy the player who's simply trying to put the game out of reach with only seconds left in the contest.

NHL needs to come clean on how terrible the overall officiating is and make a point to overhaul the entire officiating system.

Of course you can. See Bertuzzi and Moore. You might not be able to empirically prove it, but there are signs.
- jugkope

what? there's no way of getting into a player's head at the moment something happens... not sure what you mean.

Man...Ek can super size his combo now, with all the clicks this blog is gonna get.