Scheifele doesn't agree with benching vs. Leafs

Winnipeg Jets star Mark Scheifele didn't sugarcoat his emotions after being benched by head coach Paul Maurice for 17 straight minutes during a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

"Yeah, I understand where he's coming from," Scheifele said, according to Sportsnet's Ken Wiebe. "I don't agree with him benching me.

"But we don't have to agree on everything. He's the coach, I'm the player ... that's the business of sports. I'll be ready to play tonight and that's about it."

Scheifele was benched after he went straight off the ice following a Jets' turnover in the offensive zone, which resulted in the Leafs scoring on an odd-man rush to make it 3-1.

The Jets' top pivot, who leads the club with 54 points, was upset with the timing of the decision with the club in need of offense.

"You're definitely pretty pissed off," he said, per Wiebe. "I understand where he's coming from but like I said before I don't agree with it.

"I didn't agree with it at the time it took place and the magnitude of the game. I definitely didn't agree with it, so we'll leave it at that."

The Jets sit eight points back of the division-leading Maple Leafs entering Monday's tilt with the Edmonton Oilers.