Chicago Blackhawks player Marian Hossa took a hard hit this past week that will leave one less player at tonight’s game.
Hossa has been ruled out of Game 4 against the Phoenix Coyotes after taking a horrible hit by player Raffi Torres in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal series Tuesday night.
During the first period of Game 3, Hossa had just passed the puck at center ice when the Coyotes forward came out and hit him with his shoulder. Hossa went flying into the air and then landed on the ice, where he remained until trainers rushed to his side.
It was clear Hossa wasn’t going to walk this one off. He was eventually taken off the ice on a stretcher and rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Hossa’s condition wasn’t immediately revealed, though it was reported that he later left the hospital and was in contact with his friends and teammates via text messaging.
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville offered up little detail on his condition, “The prognosis? I’m not sure on that. There is no change from where the release was last night to where it is today. There is no change. He’s home resting,” reported ESPN. The Chicago coach did note however that he was definitely out for Thursday’s game.
The team has called up player Brandon Saad to replace Hossa Thursday.
Torres was not penalized on the play immediately though the NHL suspended him indefinitely and he has a hearing on Friday in New York.
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett defended the player saying, “I’ve seen a lot of other hits like it in the league. It’s a fast game,’’ according to Associated Press and added, “I don’t think there was any malicious intent on Raffi’s part. He’s a hard hitter. He turned, coming full speed, caught a guy right in the chest. Unfortunately, the player was injured.”
The Coyotes took home a 3-2 win Tuesday night and will play the Blackhawks Thursday at 8 p.m.
Check it out. Do you think Torres deserved indefinite suspension?
