The Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs don't like each other. The hatred dates back to their time together in the North Division. The hatred spilled over into last season when Neal Pionk injured Rasmus Sandin, before Jason Spezza retaliated against Pionk. That retaliation led to a 7 games suspension for Spezza.
Early in tonight's game Dylan DeMelo hit Mitch Marner from behind and it appears Wayne Simmonds took a number. After a whistle Simmonds skated into Mark Scheifele trying to set off a chain reaction. As Scheifele reacts the linesmen manage to intervene just in time.
The referees thought this collison warranted a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. After the initial collision Simmonds approached DeMelo and made sure he knew that was a message being sent that it's going to be a star player for a star player.