Watch and Vote on NHL Hit of the Week for Oct. 9-15, 2011

The first full week of NHL action is finally complete. After a long four (or more, depending on the team) months without hockey for fans, it is great to finally see the passionate, physical game of hockey back in action.

That physical aspect of the game includes clean, hard hits and fights. Here are the top hits of this past week.

Click bold link to view video of hit, and be sure to vote in the poll for your favorite.

Chris Neil on Clayton Stoner

Minnesota Wild at Ottawa Senators (Oct. 11, 2011)

After the Senators dump the puck in towards the Wild net, Minnesota's Clayton Stoner gains possession. He skates with the puck towards the back of his own net, head down.

Neil, coming from the other side of the net, skates into him, applying a shoulder-to-chest hit. Stoner is sent flying through the air and lands on his back.

Bryan Allen on Jason Pominville

Carolina Hurricanes at Buffalo Sabres (Oct. 14, 2011)

Carolina's Jeff Skinner is unable to handle a pass going out of his own zone. He misses the puck, and Buffalo's Jason Pominville skates over it. Pominville touches the puck once with his stick before losing it between his skates.

As Pominville looks down for the puck (which ends up behind him), Carolina's Bryan Allen skates into him. The shoulder-to-chest hit sends Pominville off his skates. Pominville's body even hits Skinner before falling to the ice.

Zac Rinaldo on Drew Doughty

Los Angeles Kings at Philadelphia Flyers (October 15, 2011)

Drew Doughty of Los Angeles skates into the Philadelphia zone with the puck, head down. Zac Rinaldo skates at him and applies a hit with his right shoulder that makes contact with Doughty's right shoulder area, sending Doughty down to the ice.

Doughty would not return to the game due to an upper-body injury, and is listed as out for 7-10 days. Dustin Penner instigated a fight with Rinaldo as a response to the hard hit.