Hossa taken off on stretcher after big hit from Torres

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Marian Hossa lay on the ice motionless for several minutes, felled by a high, leaping hit by Phoenix forward Raffi Torres. The call for a stretcher went through the Zamboni tunnel at the United Center, and soon after Hossa was wheeled off, completely immobilized.

Now the Blackhawks will wait to see if their top forward is all right.

Hossa was leveled by Torres 11:51 into the first period and was taken to a hospital during Game 3 of the Blackhawks Western Conference quarterfinal series with the Coyotes on Tuesday night. Inexplicably, Torres wasnt called for a penalty on the play but one would think supplemental discipline is in his future.

Torres has a history; he has been suspended at least twice and fined once by the NHL for previous infractions. The former Vancouver Canuck forward escaped suspension when he had a high hit on Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook during their playoff series last spring.

Its tough, Patrick Kane told Sarah Kustok during first intermission. You saw the hit. I think itll be reviewed by the league. Its just tough you dont get a power play out of it. Hossas a big part of our team so someones going to have to step up and fill the void.

Andrew Brunette told WGN Radio that refocusing after something like that is tough.

I think it has to go back in the hockey game, Brunette said of the focus. All our thoughts and prayers are with Marian, hopefully hes doing OK. Hes such a great guy and teammate that for us not to have him here kind of stinks. But we need to get back to hockey, and unfortunately thats part of the game.
Still images of the hit and aftermath:

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