Leafs' Cedric Pare Smiles While Discussing Laine Injury and Now Fans Are Going After Him

During the first period of Saturday's clash between the Leafs and Canadiens in Montreal, Patrik Laine was surging into the Leafs' zone when he collided with Pare, forcing a knee-on-knee collision that looked anything but intentional..

Unfortunately, Laine took the worst of the hit, sending him crashing to the ice in pain, clutching at his knee. Following the game, the former 2nd overall pick was spotted leaving the arena on crutches, leading many to speculate that a long layoff is coming and that the injury is significant.

Pare had a chance to speak with the media in Montreal following the game, a 2-1 win for the Leafs, but when discussing the hit that look Laine out, which Pare established was entirely accidental, he was spotted smiling, which has really drawn the ire of Habs fans.

I have a hard time believing that Pare found any legitimate joy in the situation. This was likely more of an awkward reaction to a tense situation in Montreal than anything else. Players don't like to hurt other players intentionally -- especially during a meaningless pre-season game.

Arber Xhekaj did dispense some justice in the contest, jumping him from behind and delivering a series of unanswered punches on the soon-to-be Toronto Marlies defenseman, which earned Xhekaj an ejection from the game and put the Leafs on a rare 7-minute power play.

Honestly, the whole situation is just very unfortunate, because the knee was not intentional, and the smile just seems to have made matters worse for a Quebec-born player who was so excited to play his first game ever at The Bell Centre in Montreal. You certainly feel for Laine more than anyone else, but there surely has to be some empathy for Pare as well, who must have felt very awkward after one of the biggest games of his life.

Hopefully, Laine ends up being okay, first and foremost. But the secondary hope here is that Canadiens fans watch the play back and realizes there was no real intent there and that it was just an unfortunate play.