Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans had to be stretchered off the ice in Game 1 after taking a vicious hit from Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele.
Scheifele lined up Evans from across the ice as the Canadiens player buried an empty-netter with less than a minute remaining in the contest.
The Jets pivot was handed a charging major and game misconduct.
Here's a look from another angle:
Scheifele left his feet, led with his elbow, and appeared to make contact with Evans' head.
Habs defenseman Joel Edmundson took issue with the hit, saying there will be repercussions if Scheifele appears again in the series.
"It was a dirty hit, but the league's going to take care of it," he told reporters postgame, per TSN's John Lu. "If (Scheifele) gets back in the series, we're going to make his life miserable."
Jesperi Kotkaniemi also defended his teammate.
"It's disgusting. Little respect for the players out there," Kotkaniemi said. "Just seeing (Evans) moving (on the stretcher) after a thing like that was huge."
Evans had movement in his arms as he left the ice.
Montreal held on for the 5-3 win.
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