Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares was unhappy with the hit Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev laid on his teammate Mitch Marner in the first period of Thursday night's tilt between the two clubs.
"We want that out of our game," Tavares said postgame, according to Postmedia's Terry Koshan.
Here's a look at the hit:
Mikhail Sergachev got two minutes for an illegal check to the head on Mitch Marner.
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 4, 2021
Thoughts? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Owgb9mFjPP
Sergachev received a two-minute minor for an illegal check to the head.
Tavares took exception to the play, immediately coming to Marner's defense.
Tavares went right after Sergachev pic.twitter.com/9RwRrRTng0
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) November 4, 2021
Tavares also shared his thoughts on the hit during the first intermission.
"I thought it was dirty," Tavares told TSN's Mark Masters. "Clips him right in the head. Just want to go in there and be there for my teammate. I just didn't like the hit."
Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe is confident the league will at least consider disciplining Sergachev.
"I'm sure the league is going to look at it," Keefe said postgame, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox.
Sergachev was remorseful about the play, as Marner said he apologized for the hit.
