Phoenix's Raffi Torres crunches Chicago's Marian Hossa Tuesday night.
Phoenix's Raffi Torres crunches Chicago's Marian Hossa Tuesday night. REUTERS

Chicago's Marian Hossa has been released from the hospital, though his status is not known for the remained of the series, after a huge check from Phoenix's Raffi Torres in their first round playoff series.

Torres hit Hossa with just over eight minutes left in the first period on Tuesday night. Hossa had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher and was taken to the hospital immediately.

In the video, Torres appears to leave his skates and target Hossa's head with the hit. Combine those factors with the fact that Hossa had released the puck and Torres' history of these types of hits and it looks like the Phoenix player is in line for a big suspension.

Though no details were released about Hossa's injury, he was released from the hospital the same night he checked in and the Blackhawks said he is expected to make a full recovery.

After initial evaluation on the ice, (Hossa) was taken by ambulance to the hospital for further testing, which yielded encouraging results, team physician Dr. Michael Terry said in a statement after the game. He has been released from the hospital and we are monitoring him closely at home.

Torres was not penalized on the ice for the hit, something that angered Blackhawks head coach Joel Quennville.

It was a brutal hit, Quenneville said. I saw exactly what happened. It was right in front of me. How four guys missed it was hard. The refereeing tonight was a disgrace.

The Coyotes lead the series 2-1 after a 3-2 overtime victory in game three, and with Hossa, the Blackhawks leading scorer, expected to miss some time, they look to be in good position to wrap up the series.

The hit was just the latest in a series of ugly hits that have led to suspensions in the first week of the playoffs. Torres will have his hearing later today, but Arron Asham, James Neal and Nicklas Backstrom were all dinged in a single evening the night before.

Prior to that Andrew Shaw was suspended for hitting Mike Smith. The list continues and provides a nasty black eye on what has otherwise been a very exciting playoff season so far.