Will Coach Joel Quenneville turn the Blackhawks loose Thursday night for some vigilante justice after Raffi Torres' hit on Marian Hossa? Are the Hawks looking for payback?
These are the questions on angry Hawks fans minds after Hossa was struck Tuesday by Torres' shoulder in the first period of Game 3 of the opening-round playoff series. Hossa was rushed off the ice on a stretcher and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Torres was not penalized, and Hossa was ruled out of play for Thursday's 7 p.m. Game 4 against the Coyotes.
"People are furious, and they want old-school hockey retribution, a lot of them," said Matt Spiegel of 670 The Score. "But even some of the ones who know that's not the way to do it, that's not the right thing to do, they still want it."
Phoenix Coyotes broadcaster Tyson Nash apparently already is experiencing some payback for his commentary during the hit, calling it “as clean of a hit as you’re going to get.”
NBC Sports reports Nash has received death threats for the description and has since backed off the comment. “You have to love the Twitter world,” Nash told The Waddle and Silvy Show on ESPN 1000.
Hawks fans told NBC Chicago they wouldn't go that far, but they said something needs to be done.
"It was pretty bad. I'm hoping for a five-game suspension," said hockey fan Russ Badamo. "Plus I'm not a big Torres fan anyway.
Others feel it's just the latest example that professional hockey has gotten more violent.
"I don't like it, and they really need to put a halt to it," said Arlene Sinde, a Blackhawks fan. "The playoffs have been really bad."
Others don't see the violence in pro hockey as a problem, especially during the playoffs.
"I don't think they need to change anything, I like it. It's old-time hockey. It's good stuff."
NFL officials said Wednesday Torres was suspended indefinitely. Torres faces a Friday hearing with NHL officials in New York. The hearing was planned for Wednesday but was deferred at the request of the player and NHL Players' Association.
