The Winnipeg Jets downplayed an incident during practice on Saturday that saw head coach Paul Maurice kick captain Blake Wheeler off the ice for fighting with teammate Ben Chiarot.

"Our theory in how we practice is real short, as fast as we can," Maurice said after practice. "(It's a) full-contact sport. In the game somebody gets an elbow up, somebody gets a piece of somebody. It happens occasionally in practice. That's going to happen. It's all good."

The incident occurred during a special teams drill, reports Postmedia's Ken Wiebe.

Chiarot and Mark Scheifele were exchanging cross-checks in front of the net before Wheeler asserted himself and initiated a fight.

Postmedia's Scott Billeck reports that prior to the fight, Wheeler took a slapshot at Chiarot.

Wheeler appeared to have taken a punch to the eye and threw his helmet down in frustration on his way to the dressing room.

The expulsion from practice came after a warning from Maurice not to fight.

Chiarot also deemphasized the matter.

"(Fights) happen all the time," Chiarot said. "Tempers get up. Like I said, intensity in practice is always a good thing. It's something we're trying to bring here before the playoffs."

Scheifele said the incident will blow over in no time.

"We have short memories, or I at least do," Scheifele said. "You're in the heat of the moment for a little bit. Then you have a quick bite to eat and a glass of water and you're ready to go."

The Jets are coming off of a 3-2 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks that saw the team reach the 100-point plateau for the first time in club history. The team is next in action on Sunday when they host the Central Division-leading Nashville Predators, who currently sit three points ahead of the Jets.

Wheeler, 31, has appeared in 74 contests for the team this season, scoring 19 goals and chipping in with a league-leading 64 assists.