Edmundson sounds off on Scheifele: ‘We’re gonna make his life miserable’

While it appears likely that Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele will face discipline from the league for his hit on Montreal forward Jake Evans late in Game 1, Canadiens defenceman Joel Edmundson said he team will also deal their own justice if they face Scheifele again.

Evans was stretchered off the ice in Wednesday’s 5-3 win for the Canadiens after Scheifele caught him with a high-hit just moments after Evans scored an empty-net goal. Scheifele was given a major penalty and a game misconduct for charging.

“Yeah, it was a dirty hit but the league’s going to take care of it,” Edmundson said. “If he gets back in the series, we’re going to make his life miserable, but I think the league’s going to do a good job with that.”

Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme, who called the hit “vicious“ and “useless,” did not have update on Evans, but said he wasn’t taken to the hospital after leaving the ice.

“No, he’s still here, he’s being evaluated,” Ducharme said post-game. “He’s doing better, but before I came here he was still being evaluated.”

Canadiens forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi called the hit on Evans “disgusting.”

“No respect for the other players out there,” Kotkaniemi said. “I’m not saying anything more than that.”

Jets head coach Paul Maurice tried to defend the hit, but added the league was likely to get involved.

“Well, hopefully the young man is going to be all right,” Maurice said of Evans. “It’s such a highly unusual play because you’re backchecking back to kill and empty-net play, you’re coming full speed.

“When Mark stopped skating he kept his arms in. It’s a heavy, heavy hit. There’s no doubt about that. I’m sure the league will have its opinion.”

Scheifele, 28, has two goals and five points in five playoff games this year after posting 21 goals and 63 points in 56 games during the regular season.

He has no previous suspension history.