Hossa leaves game on a Stretcher

[hf101]

http://sports.yahoo....-015358145.html

video in link

Very scary moment in the first period during Tuesday's Game 3 between the Chicago Blackhawks and Phoenix Coyotes.

Marian Hossa was cutting toward center ice after getting the puck knocked away from him when he was met by Raffi Torres who laid a shoulder to the Blackhawks forward's chin. On replay it was clear Torres launched himself into Hossa.

Hossa was knocked unconscious and had to be taken from the ice on a stretcher:

Torres was not penalized on the play. Brandon Bollig of the Blackhawks was assessed a double minor for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct for going after Torres. Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune Tweeted that Hossa left the rink in an ambulance.

The following television timeout, Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville was interviewed by NBC Sports Network's Joe Micheletti and his was response was simply: "It was a brutal hit. I can't believe four guys missed it. It makes me sick."

Torres is a repeat offender. He was fined $2,500 in December for elbowing Jan Hejda and later suspended three days later for two games after charging Nate Prosser. You'll recall he was banned for the final two regular season games and two playoff games at the end of last season for elbowing Jordan Eberle in the head.

If there's case for a Matt Cooke 2011 Suspension 2.0, this hit is the one. A conclusive update on Hossa will come tomorrow, right in time for Torres' hearing with Brendan Shanahan; and seeing as how injury plays a role in whether to suspend and the length of a suspension, in this situation it shouldn't matter. Torres left his feet. Made contact with the head and the result was ugly.

[JackStraw]

Here's the video:

http://watch.tsn.ca/nhl/clip660960#clip660960

This is really getting out of control.

[hf101]

Nothing like swift disciplinary action.

[fishbulb]

That was pretty filthy... late? *maybe* left feet? *check* head shot? *check*

I'm sure Torres is a 'repeater'... 3-5 games?

[SKiFit]

That was pretty filthy... late? *maybe* left feet? *check* head shot? *check*

I'm sure Torres is a 'repeater'... 3-5 games?

Very similar to Neal's hit on Couturier yet the difference was Hossa left on a stretcher while Couts wasn't injured; Neal wasn't punished for that hit, so we'll see if Shanahan is consistent with his decisions.