When asked on the Jets On TSN broadcast Tuesday whether he likes scoring or setting up his teammates more, Mark Scheifele didn’t hesitate to pick assists.
“I like setting them up,” said Scheifele during the second intermission in an interview with Jets broadcaster Kevin Sawyer. “Obviously, scoring is fun, but I love a good assist.”
He’s had a lot of helpers to reflect on throughout his 924-game career – 500 to be exact – after recording two assists in the Jets’ 5-4 win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.
Scheifele hit the milestone in unique fashion after recording his first assist of the night on Kyle Connor’s opening goal.
On the team’s third goal of the night, scored by Jonathan Toews on the power play, Scheifele was originally awarded an assist, but the referees mistook him for Gabriel Vilardi.
The game presentation team at Canada Life Centre brought Scheifele up on the videoboard to congratulate him, but Scheifele shook his head and mouthed to the crowd, “not my apple.”
“Well, I thought I heard my name when they initially announced it, and that’s why I was like, ‘Did I touch it? There’s no way.’ I knew I didn’t,” said Scheifele after the win. “I went and told the linesman that it wasn’t my assist and it was Gaber’s. Then they announced it right away. I was like, ‘No, please. Just wait four seconds before you announce it so they can change it.’ But you know, I guess it was just meant to be tonight.”
It didn’t take long before the milestone was actually reached. A hard-fought puck battle in the corner ended with Scheifele coming out with the puck and setting up teammate Dylan DeMelo, who scored on a shot from the point.
When Scheifele was put up on the videoboard again, it was the real deal. The 32-year-old centre had a huge smile and waved to the crowd.
“I feel like he’s playing the best hockey of his career this year,” said DeMelo after the game. “To see him work on his craft, it’s not a surprise he’s got this many assists, and he’s going to keep going strong.”
Scheifele’s first assist in the National Hockey League came in a Jets win against the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 4, 2013. He helped set up a goal by former Jet Evander Kane.
Jets winger Tanner Pearson has only started playing with him at the professional level this season but has witnessed Scheifele’s playmaking ability since they were teammates in junior with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League.
“You saw it in junior more than anything,” said Pearson at his stall after practice on Wednesday. “He had such a passion for the game – and he still does – that he’s willing to get better and better, and obviously it’s translated.”
“You look at the way he plays – I don’t know if he’s ever shot on a two-on-one, he tries to pass every time,” said Pearson. “Even I yell at him to shoot the puck because he does have such a good shot.”
In 45 games played so far this season, Scheifele has 22 goals and 32 assists, averaging more than a point per game.
The first selection made by the Jets after the franchise relocated from Atlanta in the 2011 NHL draft (seventh overall), he became the franchise’s all-time points leader last October and in games played last November.
