I do not have a dog in this. I just want to see good hockey.

And I LOVE, mean, gritty, physical hockey.

But I really don’t see how anyone can argue that it’s not a blatant charge.

No, he never left his feet, but the amount of space skated still follows charging criteria. 2 games because he’s got no history. Maybe 3. Regardless, he needs a time out.

Scheifele's choice to play the puck or the man. He chose to play the man.
Evans' choice to take the shot or wait for his teammates for support. He chose to take the shot and got his clock cleaned.

Sorry, I still don't see a penalty there.

If it had been the other way around, the Habs fans would say it was a good, clean hit.

It's unfortunate Evans got hurt, but he really left himself wide-open.
- Nh_kong

That's fine if "you" don't see a penalty. Not everyone can understand the rules or the game well.

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.
- MnGump

I was saying exactly the same thing this morning to someone, but this clearly is the standard the league, coaches and players want. If it wasn't it would already be changed.

Dirty hit; no, uncalled for; yes. But then again Evans doesn't get blasted if his head is up. Thank god Scott Stevens doesn't play today!
- FAZOOL

How was he supposed to put the puck in the net with his head up? He's doing a wrap around...

That's fine if "you" don't see a penalty. Not everyone can understand the rules or the game well.
- Izzo

Things are a lot different now than they were in, say.....the 90's.
When the Scott Stevens of the NHL ruled the ice come playoff time.

Seems now people are all for suspending a guy because their feelings got hurt.

I know the players are too young to probably be really aware of him, but they should go back and perhaps watch what can happen when you have your head down instead of being aware of who's coming at you.

Charging? Give me a break.

Keep your head up when you are trying to score and be aware of what is around you.
- rrentz

Kinda true though this won't be a very popular opinion right now...

I do think Scheifele 100% deserves a suspension cause he charged, caught the head and it was an ugly outcome. At the same time, because it was an empty netter Evans may have not been expecting to be hit and let up a bit awareness wise.

Don't get me wrong it's not Evans' fault, but you really do have to be aware at all times. For obvious reasons wrapping the puck is or any kind of net drive play in inherently dangerous and players will shy or turn away at times during normal play because of the threat of being filled in like that. I think Evans was not expecting Scheifele to be dirty like this on an EN and the worst outcome happened. Schiefele is an idiot but there are a lot of idiots in the NHL, gotta be aware at all times.

Ok, so let's just pretend it was a "clean" hit. Let's pretend he didn't skate balls out almost 200 feet in desperation to stop an empty net goal that he was by all rights never going to get to in time. Let's also pretend that even though the timing of the play was immediately after the puck crossed the line that Scheifele had every right to blow Evans up even though at that point the play and essentially the game was over.

I'm honestly fine with guys saying it was a legit clean hit... Because contextually speaking yes, he didn't leave his feet, the upper torso/chest was the initial point of contact blah blah blah blah... But true fans of this sport are going to adamantly support this kind of play? Even if it wasn't charging... which it most certainly was.

full disclosure; I'm all for checking, enforcing and even fighting in what i deem my favorite sport. But there has to be a line drawn somewhere, and i believe Scheifele crossed it, whether intentional or not.

I don't like the hit and when it happened but it was a very bang bang play and Evans did nothing to help his cause. He wanted to score regardless of what was coming at him.

I guess it should be a game but it was also kind of a clean hit. Very torn.

Hockey is a dangerous sport. If you want soccer, go watch it. Unnecessary doesn't mean illegal. I've been asking for ONE rule that was broken and nobody has been able to provide one.

Rule 42 - He stopped skating at the top of the circle. He did not leave his feet until after the initial contact was made. Rule 42 is DONE.

Rule 48 - From every angle, the primary point of contact was the CHEST, not the head. The injury occurred from the head popping back after the hit to the chest and then hitting the ice after Evans fell. Rule 48 is DONE.

Rule 56 - The contact happened .1 seconds after the puck left Evans stick. Whether the puck went into the net or not, .1 seconds is not enough time for a violation of rule 56. Rule 56 is DONE.

Arguments that are NOT rules.

"It was violent." "It was unnecessary." "He should have stick-checked him." "He could have saved a goal."

NONE of those apply and that's all based on emotion, not the rulebook.

He'll get suspended because of the mob justice on social media. The NHL has been trying to turn hockey into soccer on ice for decades and they're almost as weak as football when it comes to social media pressure. Rules weren't broken and the player will get suspended. The NHLPA should lose their poop over this one.
- Kcannon98

He violated rule 42, charging. The rule states that player can skate,leave his feet OR charge where charge is defined as distance traveled leading to a violent hit. The later is exactly what occurred. The officials called it a major with a game misconduct, giving Scheifele the benefit of the doubt there because they did not call it a match penalty, which would would imply intent to injure. I would argue it should have been called a match penalty. The play absolutely warrants a suspension, imo the remainder of the series but at the minimum 3 games, which gives MTL the chance to win the series without him on the ice. Below is the rule:

42.1 Charging - A minor or major penalty shall be imposed on a player
who skates, jumps into or charges an opponent in any manner.
Charging shall mean the actions of a player who, as a result of
distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner. A
“charge” may be the result of a check into the boards, into the goal
frame or in open ice.

Things are a lot different now than they were in, say.....the 90's.
When the Scott Stevens of the NHL ruled the ice come playoff time.

Seems now people are all for suspending a guy because their feelings got hurt.

I know the players are too young to probably be really aware of him, but they should go back and perhaps watch what can happen when you have your head down instead of being aware of who's coming at you.

Charging? Give me a break.
- Nh_kong

You do realize the rules are different from then right? Is there some special clause in the rules that says some of the current rules are allowed to be broken because someone on hockeybuzz said there was another time when those rules were different? The only thing you are saying is that to you the current rules don't matter and since you think that then charging isn't a penalty.

Rule 42 Charging - A minor or major penalty shall be imposed on a player
who skates, jumps into or charges an opponent in any manner.
Charging shall mean the actions of a player who, as a result of
distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner. A
“charge” may be the result of a check into the boards, into the goal
frame or in open ice.

42.5 Game Misconduct Penalty - When a major penalty is imposed under
this rule for a foul resulting in an injury to the face or head of an
opponent, a game misconduct shall be imposed.

It's charging stop trying to pretend otherwise. Skating isn't defined by something that happens only when moving your feet. Leaving your feet is also not a factor as per the actual rule. Rule 42 was clearly broken to anyone with at least a lukewarm IQ level.
- Izzo

He violated rule 42, charging. The rule states that player can skate,leave his feet OR charge where charge is defined as distance traveled leading to a violent hit. The later is exactly what occurred. The officials called it a major with a game misconduct, giving Scheifele the benefit of the doubt there because they did not call it a match penalty, which would would imply intent to injure. I would argue it should have been called a match penalty. The play absolutely warrants a suspension, imo the remainder of the series but at the minimum 3 games, which gives MTL the chance to win the series without him on the ice. Below is the rule:

42.1 Charging - A minor or major penalty shall be imposed on a player
who skates, jumps into or charges an opponent in any manner.
Charging shall mean the actions of a player who, as a result of
distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner. A
“charge” may be the result of a check into the boards, into the goal
frame or in open ice.
- TopShelf66

No he didn't. He stopped skating at the top of the circle and glided into the hit. That's NOT charging and if it is, we have a completely different game than we did 24 hours ago.

5 games would be fair

Ok, so let's just pretend it was a "clean" hit. Let's pretend he didn't skate balls out almost 200 feet in desperation to stop an empty net goal that he was by all rights never going to get to in time. Let's also pretend that even though the timing of the play was immediately after the puck crossed the line that Scheifele had every right to blow Evans up even though at that point the play and essentially the game was over.

I'm honestly fine with guys saying it was a legit clean hit... Because contextually speaking yes, he didn't leave his feet, the upper torso/chest was the initial point of contact blah blah blah blah... But true fans of this sport are going to adamantly support this kind of play? Even if it wasn't charging... which it most certainly was.

full disclosure; I'm all for checking, enforcing and even fighting in what i deem my favorite sport. But there has to be a line drawn somewhere, and i believe Scheifele crossed it, whether intentional or not.
- MnGump

Finally you're correct. It was a textbook hit that didn't even warrant a penalty on the ice. Thanks for your honesty.

I do not have a dog in this. I just want to see good hockey.

And I LOVE, mean, gritty, physical hockey.

But I really don’t see how anyone can argue that it’s not a blatant charge.

No, he never left his feet, but the amount of space skated still follows charging criteria. 2 games because he’s got no history. Maybe 3. Regardless, he needs a time out.
- Hesh_

He stopped skating at the top of the circle.

So much is wrong with this play. He covers too much ice sprinting in a straight line and gains too much speed to finish the play with a hit. Its text book charging. It doesn't matter of he coasted at the end, didn't jump or was trying to prevent a goal. Trying to prevent a goal isn't an excuse to do something illegal.

If by some miracle he could stop that goal the only way he could do it is stick to stick. A body check does nothing to stop that goal. He makes no attempt with his stick.

Stop the video at four seconds. It's clear that Evan's is going to score There's about ten feet between the two there's nothing douchebag can do about it. Once the puck crosses the line the play is dead so Evan's no longer poses a threat. This is when scheifele is supposed to hit the brakes.

Scheifele was running around like a roided bumhole all night. Danault schooled him all night long. When it became clear Evan's was going to score he decided to hurt someone.

I hope he gets NO games.

THEN we'd have an old-time hockey series.

No he didn't. He stopped skating at the top of the circle and glided into the hit. That's NOT charging and if it is, we have a completely different game than we did 24 hours ago.
- Kcannon98

We have the same game you just don't comprehend the rules lol. Most sane people here understand, the referee's called it charging, the league is calling it charging, but nope "kcannon98" says it's not charging. Everyone should now just reject reality and live only in the pseudo world of kcannon98.

I hope he gets NO games.

THEN we'd have an old-time hockey series.

- Nh_kong

If he gets no suspension it will be a dirty series with probably a bench clearing brawl next game. The NHL knows this

No he didn't. He stopped skating at the top of the circle and glided into the hit. That's NOT charging and if it is, we have a completely different game than we did 24 hours ago.
- Kcannon98

You’re either trolling or one of the dumbest (frank)ing people on earth. I’m hoping the former.

"Scheifele stop taking strides in the habs zone"... Well, you forgot how skates function on ice ? He was skating taking strides since his own zone, if you stop taking strides : you don't lose speed, you simply don't break. He was preparing his hit.

Charging is one of the hardest thing in this sport (even if not a head shot) and I don't even talk about the distance travelled which was ridiculous.

Anyway, guess we'll stay a bunch of @#%$@##? for thinking it's a classless dumb move from him.

I fear a Juulsen/Bournival situation. Don't think Evans will ever fully come back from this.

He stopped skating at the top of the circle.
- Kcannon98

Again. It doesn’t (frank)ing matter idiot!!

Is there at least beer? If not GTFO
- glove_was_stuck

Sergachev brings the beer every night. He was banned from the NHL after what he did to Frank Vatrano. Our captain also just texted Scheifele if he'd like to be our ringer once he's banned for life.

Scheifele stops skating because he has no intent of stopping the play, he just wanted to get the massive hit. If he wanted to stop the play, he would have tried to poke the puck first, then make the hit. At no point we see him look at the puck here.

That being said, playoff hockey is more intense, but it doesn't mean you need to rip someone else's head off. Playoff hockey is Price's play in general, beautiful goals like Suzuki's, stepping up like MacKinnon, Danault's defensive play, Perry's trash talking, etc. (I like how Perry is playing right now, but if he gets dirty, I won't like it as much).

Habs fans have hurt feelings today.

Time for a suspension!