The first week of November was not unlike any other week of NHL play. With the season well underway, and injuries beginning to take their toll on a number of teams, the toughest athletes in pro sports continued to deal out the punishment.
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Daniel Paille was recently picked up by the Bruins to replace bruiser Milan Lucic. Paille does is best Lucic impression here, leveling Red Wings’ forward Ville Leino. video
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Evander Kane has been turning heads with his hard work and standout play. Kane tried to burn Marc Methot on the outside here, but Methot catches him with a textbook hipcheck. video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1l3IHdr35Y
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This hit is from the OHL, from a game between the Kitchener Rangers and the Erie Otters. Otters forward Michael Liambas destroyed 16 year old Ben Fanelli, fracturing his skull and sending him to the hospital. Unfortunately, Fanelli may never play again, while Liambas has been suspended from the OHL for life. In my opinion, the hit was clean, since Fanelli turned his shoulder at the last second, making it look like a hit from behind, while Liambas kept his elbow down and never left his feet. video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yDddr2Opm0
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Phil Kessel didn’t get much time to re-acclimate himself to NHL action after a long-term layoff due to a shoulder injury. In his first game with Toronto against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Mattias Ohlund caught him coming over the blueline with his head down. In Kessel’s own words “I don’t think I’ve ever been hit like that.” video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bov63RMMIUQ
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Chris Neil is no stranger to big hits, as he has been doling them out for the last decade. Here he catches standout rookie defenseman Victor Hedman behind his own net, knocking him out of the game. video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzcJfHtqkgw