WINNIPEG -- The gloves came off at Winnipeg Jets practice on Saturday.
A small scuffle that involved a couple of Jets players ensued after a point shot was taken by Blake Wheeler during a drill. That melee turned into fists being tossed between Wheeler and Jets defensemen Ben Chiarot, with Wheeler being sent to the dressing room by coach Paul Maurice after the fight broke up.
“It’s just boys being boys,” said Chiarot, who had a small cut on his nose after practice. “Tempers get up. Intensity in practice is always a good thing and that’s something we’re trying to bring here before the playoffs. I look at it as a good thing.”
🎥 Ben Chiarot speaks on the intensity in today’s practice, the team’s versatility this season, and more. pic.twitter.com/PEBgRF5uVq
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) March 24, 2018
Wheeler didn’t speak to the media following being sent off. He appeared to be sporting a welt over his left eye and tossed his helmet into the Jets bench before heading down the tunnel.
The Jets own a 10-point stranglehold on the second seed in the Central Division and appear set for their first playoff appearance in three seasons.
Winnipeg notched its 100th point of the season on Friday in a 3-2 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks.
Mark Scheifele, who was in the vicinity, said he was just an innocent bystander in the ordeal.
“I didn’t do anything,” he said. “I was just sitting in the slot, I don’t know if I had anything (to do with it.)”
🎥 Head Coach Paul Maurice on the intensity at Saturday's practice, the win over Anaheim, injury updates and more pic.twitter.com/MMauulDFV9
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Paul Maurice watched the fracas from center ice but didn’t say anything until Wheeler’s glove’s game off, at which point he yelled for the pair to stop.
“You’d like a few more of those during the year if you could,” Maurice said after practice.
When pressed as to why, Maurice spoke of keeping the intensity level high throughout the season.
“Our theory in how we practice is really short, as fast as we can, a full-contact sport,” Maurice said. “In the games, somebody gets an elbow up, somebody gets a piece of someone that happens and occasionally in practice that’s going to happen. It’s all good.”
Jets forward Adam Lowry said players were already moved on to the joking phase following the altercation.
“They might be mad at each other for 10 minutes, but you don’t expect a grudge to be held too long,” Lowry said. “I’m sure (by Sunday), they’ll be laughing about it.”
Asked if there would be any repercussions for either player, Maurice shared a joke.
“There will be no family meeting tomorrow,” he said.
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck