Jets' Arniel: Scheifele's father 'would be so proud of him'

Mark Scheifele left it all on the ice despite difficult circumstances in the Winnipeg Jets' Game 6 loss to the Dallas Stars on Saturday.

Scheifele's father, Brad, died unexpectedly hours ahead of the game. Scheifele opted to play, and with a heavy heart, scored the opening goal.

Head coach Scott Arniel said pregame that Scheifele told him playing is what his dad would've wanted him to do.

"His dad would be so proud of him," an emotional Arniel said postgame, per Sportsnet. "He wanted to win so bad. Circumstances are so, so tough to be in a situation like that. I couldn't imagine it."

Jets captain Adam Lowry was the first to embrace Scheifele after their season ended.

"It's tough to put into words what Mark went through today," Lowry said. "Gets a huge goal for us, plays a heck of a game, and it ends the way it does. Just emotional, heavy, really proud of the group we have."

Scheifele took a tripping penalty on Sam Steel with 15 seconds left in regulation and was in the penalty box for the Stars' overtime winner.

Lowry immediately met Scheifele out of the box to offer his support.

"Just an awful day for him," Lowry said. "You want to give him the strength. You want to get that kill so bad. We just couldn't do it."