IT’S AN AWFULLY HARD HIT ... BUT IT WASN’T DIRTY.

for us, 21 goals halfway through the season is pretty incredible for anyone, let alone an 18-year-old,” Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. “We’re hoping for the best. It was nice to see him here and hopefully we can get some good news here, the sooner, the better.”

Maurice reiterated didn’t have an issue with the way the heavy check was delivered by Sabres defenceman Jake McCabe, who stepped up in the neutral zone and rocked Laine at 5:51 of the third period of Saturday’s 4-3 loss.

“It’s a hard hit and when you get a collision like that, there aren’t the markers of a dirty hit,” said Maurice. “The elbows aren’t off. (McCabe) is not off his feet. They collided, both heads hit and we had a bad result. It’s an awfully hard hit and those happen in the games. But it wasn’t dirty.

“I love Patrik Laine and I’m going to protect my players all day long, but I have no problem with the hit. When two big men get together at that quick a pace, there’s going to be some collateral damage. But the hits they’re talking about getting out of the game are blindside hits, elbows to the head, people coming off their feet. (This) was a very unfortunate result and we’re hoping to get (Laine) back healthy here.”

For those who believed Mark Scheifele put Laine in harm’s way with a poor pass in the neutral zone, Maurice was quick to defend the fourth-year centre.

“It was a flat pass to an open guy,” said Maurice. “That’s not in his feet, it’s not from behind, 99 times out of 100, the (defence) are pulling out on that (play) because of the speed we’ve got going. And listen, this is happening fast. You don’t have (much) time and you need to check early what your lanes are coming up the ice.

“There was nothing wrong with that pass.”

Nor did Maurice have an issue with the response from Scheifele, who went after McCabe and appeared to connect with a high cross-check on him. The emotional response was a natural one, not to mention a necessary one.

It’s going to be interesting to watch the Jets, no matter how long Laine is on the sidelines.