Marian Hossa was taken off on a stretcher and went to a nearby hospital after a brutal hit by Phoenix forward Raffi Torres, but Mikkel Boedker scored the game-winner with 6:45 remaining in overtime as the Coyotes beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series on Tuesday night.
The Blackhawks now trail the Coyotes 2-1 in the series, but the Blackhawks had bigger concerns.
Hossa was hit 11:51 into the first period by Torres and lay prone for several moments before being carted off the ice. Replays showed Torres left his feet and sent his shoulder into the head of Hossa, who no longer had the puck. Torres was not called for any penalty on the play because, according to the NHL officials, the referees did not see the play.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Chicago sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Torres has been fined once and suspended at least twice in his NHL career. He avoided both of those a year ago to the day, when, as a member of the Vancouver Canucks, he hit Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook high in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks tried to buckle down. Andrew Brunette gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead with 29 seconds remaining in the first period.
It would stay that way until the third period, when the teams combined for three goals in 65 seconds. Rostislav Klesla tied the game at 1-1 before Michael Frolik restored the Blackhawks lead just 33 seconds later. But that only lasted 32 seconds, as Ray Whitney tallied his first of the postseason.