Maurice: Tkachuk hit on Scheifele 'could have ended' his career

Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice isn't happy with how one of his team's best players, Mark Scheifele, was injured in Saturday's 4-1 loss during the first day of the NHL's return.

Scheifele left the contest versus the Calgary Flames minutes into the opening frame after he got tangled up with Matthew Tkachuk along the boards. The Flames forward's skate appeared to nick the back of Scheifele's leg, sending him to the ice writhing in pain.

In the eyes of the Jets bench boss, the move was certainly no accident.

"It was intentional. It was a filthy, dirty kick to the back of the leg," Maurice said, per Sportsnet. "You can't see it on the program feed, but you take the blueline feed and you zoom in. He went after the back of his leg. Could have cut his Achilles. Could have ended the man's career. It's an absolutely filthy disgusting hit."

While Maurice may have deemed the move intentional, Tkachuk quickly denied that idea when speaking after the game.

"I feel terrible. Such a great guy," Tkachuk said, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "It's not good for the game when someone like that isn't in the game. It was an accident and I feel terrible about it."

It isn't just the one injury that Maurice needs to worry about going forward, as the head coach added that Patrik Laine, who injured his hand late in the game, will join Scheifele in seeing a specialist on Sunday to be evaluated, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

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