Chicago Blackhawks: Raffi Torres Gets Away with Game 3 Assault of Marian Hossa

A year ago to the day, Raffi Torres delivered a head shot on Brent Seabrook that ultimately took a key member of the Chicago Blackhawks out of a playoff game.

A year to the day later, Torres struck again.

Marian Hossa was knocked to the ice with what replays show to be an illegal check to the head early in Game 3 of the Hawks' Western Conference quarterfinal against the Phoenix Coyotes. The uniform has changed, but some things remain the same.

Last year, Torres struck in Game 3, a close affair that saw his previous employer, the Vancouver Canucks, win 3-2 in the United Center. The Coyotes needed overtime, but they prevailed by that same score Tuesday night.

Of course, Torres was given a two-minute minor penalty for his sinister hit behind the Chicago net on Seabrook. However, the Phoenix forward managed to hide his assault of Hossa in plain sight. Torres received no penalty on the play, because, apparently, all four officials on the ice failed to see what is painfully obvious on video replay:

1. Torres skates with a purpose towards Hossa from deep in his own zone to where Hossa is near center ice.
2. Torres leaves his feet, launching himself into Hossa.
3. Torres' shoulder makes first contact, striking Hossa's jaw.

The officials couldn't penalize Torres following the hit based upon any writhing on the ice a la Mike Smith. That's because Hossa lay motionless on the ice for several minutes. He continued to lie motionless while he was strapped to a board, placed on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.

Not only did Torres stay on the ice, but it was Chicago who had a penalty to kill after Brandon Bollig went after Torres. No goal was given up on the resulting power play, but the damage had already been done.

No time was missed by Torres, while the Hawks were missing a forward the rest of the game. That forward being Hossa, it was also one of their best two-way players to boot.

The NHL reviews all questionable hits. Despite the bewildering no-call on the ice, this play fairly screams for league evaluation. There is little doubt on video that the hit satisfies the requirements for a suspension.

Hossa was released from the hospital under his own power late Tuesday and was being monitored at his home, according to reports from ESPN.com's Jesse Rogers. His status for Game 4 has not yet been determined.

It is now up to the NHL and vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan to take action. This is a hot issue coming off what many perceive to be Shanahan's making an example of Andrew Shaw for his collision with Mike Smith in Game 2.

A hit like this needs to be addressed and addressed quickly. Torres got away with an illegal hit in Game 3. He got away suspension-free a year ago. What's Shanahan's next move?