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Thursday’s surprising news that Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres was appealing his 25-game suspension for hitting Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa in the head last month had a tinge of irony in that it came on the same day Hossa spoke publicly about the hit for the first time.

If commissioner Gary Bettman -- who will hear the appeal -- is going to take into account Hossa’s current health it’s even more doubtful he’ll reduce the suspension. Not surprisingly, Hossa didn’t sound his normal self in talking about one of the worst moments, if not the worst, of his great career.

While there is no reason to believe he won’t recover enough to play, by now everyone knows the longer-term dangers and uncertainty of head injuries. After such a devastating hit, will he be the same player? We won’t know until next season begins.

Torres appeal

Many hockey fans are probably confused by the appeals process. It’s rarely used and rarely results in a reduction of a suspension. Bettman was undoubtedly informed of -- if not in on -- the original punishment, so what would prompt him to change his decision?

The Torres camp and the NHLPA are already on record saying they want to know why the suspension was so severe. According to a source, one thing they would like to do is present evidence of similar hits by similar repeat offenders that resulted in substantially less severe punishments. They were not able to present such evidence in the original hearing with Brendan Shanahan. They’re hopeful they can do so with the commissioner, according the source.

The other notion they are interested in exploring is the idea that suspensions in the playoffs are normally smaller due to the importance one game in a series has -- as opposed to one of 82 regular-season contests. How many games, the source says, would Torres have received if this had been a regular season game and does the current punishment fit any past pattern?

The league can automatically turn down the appeal, ask for another in-person hearing or talk to Torres on the phone. Torres would undoubtedly like another face-to-face meeting, this time with the commissioner, to present his evidence and ask a broader range of questions.

Whatever the outcome it doesn’t help Hossa heal any quicker and that’s the most important part of the equation.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa is feeling better but still hasn't recovered from a head injury suffered last month when Phoenix Coyotes winger Raffi Torres hit him in the head in the first round of the playoffs.

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CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is confident forward Marian Hossa will be fully recovered from the head injury he sustained in Game 3 of their playoff series against the Phoenix Coyotes.

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CHICAGO -- The 300-level rowdies were howling in the third period when the Chicago Blackhawks' Jimmy Hayes was sent off the ice for a brutal boarding call on Michal Rozsival, who lay prone on the ice.

“That’s not a penalty!” one yelled.

This was halfway through the period and en route to a season-ending 4-0 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes. You wondered about the irony there, or maybe the hypocrisy, but really, you almost felt sorry for the bloodthirsty lot.

After all, they’re hockey fans, not irony fans. To the provincial, the Hayes’ hit wasn’t brutal, it was just a “hockey play.” Brutal was going 0-3 at home and missing all 39 shots in Game 6.

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CHICAGO -- Injured Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa visited with his teammates at the United Center on Monday for the first time since he was forced out of Game 3 of Chicago's quarterfinal series against the Phoenix Coyotes by a hit to the head.

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Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres has been suspended 25 games by the NHL for his hit to the head of Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa during Game 3 Tuesday of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.

Torres appeared to jump into the hit at 11:51 of the first period, lowering his shoulder against the head of Hossa, who no longer had the puck.

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CHICAGO -- Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa won't travel with his team for Saturday's Game 5 of their quarterfinal playoff series against the Phoenix Coyotes, coach Joel Quenneville announced on Friday.

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Chicago Blackhawks RW Michael Frolik talks about his strong performance in Game 3 and how he's regaining chemistry with his linemates.



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Chicago Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa has been ruled out for Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Phoenix Coyotes as he recovers from a violent hit by Raffi Torres, who was suspended indefinitely.

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CHICAGO -- The loss of Chicago Blackhawks star Marian Hossa has opened the door for the hottest prospect in the organization.

Brandon Saad, a 2011 second-round pick, is set to make his playoff debut on Thursday in Game 4 of the Hawks’ quarterfinal playoff series against the Phoenix Coyotes. He arrived in Chicago from Rockford where he was working out Wednesday morning and is excited to part of the action.

“It would be awesome,” Saad said. “It’s what I dream of. I want to make the NHL and play. I got a taste of it at the start of the season. Playoff hockey would be awesome to be a part of.”

Saad impressed everyone around the Hawks with a stellar training camp and made the opening night roster as a 19-year-old. He played two games after signing a three-year contract before the Hawks sent him back to his juniors team, the Saginaw Spirit. He dominated that league, amassing 76 points in 44 regular season games.

“Well [Saad’s] got some skill,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Just looking at him physically today, it was a remarkable difference in him from training camp and the stint he had at the start of the season. How he’s filled out, how he’s grown, he looks bigger, and he had a pretty remarkable year and a great playoff [in the OHL].”

Those are lofty comments considering Saad had an NHL-ready body back in September. He’s listed at 6-foot-2, 211 pounds and has the complete package to become a bona-fide player. Now he just has to put it all together -- starting in the middle of a heated playoff series.

“Being here helped me tremendously with my season,” Saad said of playing two NHL games already. “I went back and led the way there and glad to be back now.”

Expect Saad to play on one of the top lines, possibly with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. He lined up there on opening night back in October.

Sometimes that unknown can be just as exciting as the known. Who knows how effective Saad can be? We only know he’s highly skilled and worth a look and with the Hawks down Hossa and the suspended Andrew Shaw, it just might be Saad’s turn to shine. It would add another crazy layer to an already crazy series.

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews discusses the hit by Raffi Torres on Marian Hossa.

CHICAGO -- It's not often Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville will criticize the officiating, but after his team fell 3-2 in overtime to the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 3 of their best-of-seven series, which the Hawks now trail 2-1, he didn't hold back.

"The officiating tonight was a disgrace," Quenneville said.

Quenneville was mostly referring to referees' failure to see Coyotes' winger Raffi Torres nail Marian Hossa in the head in the first quarter, forcing Hossa to leave the game on a stretcher. Considering the Hawks were punished for five minutes in Game 2 for a hit by Andrew Shaw on goalie Mike Smith, the Hawks argued they could have used a five minute man-advantage themselves. Shaw was kicked out of that game and suspended for three more.

"It was a brutal hit," Quenneville said of Torres' actions. "You could have a multiple-choice question and it's all of the above."

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CHICAGO -- This should be a no-brainer right? The NHL is getting a second chance at Raffi Torres exactly a year to the day he sent Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook to the showers with a high hit when Torres was a member of the Vancouver Canucks. This time it was Marian Hossa who got nailed and sent to the hospital. He might end up being OK, but Torres should be done for the series -- and maybe more.

“First off, I hope he’s all right,” Torres said after the Phoenix Coyotes’ 3-2 overtime win on Tuesday. “But as far as the hit goes, I felt like it was a hockey play. I was just trying to finish my hit out there, and as I said, I hope he’s all right.”

That might be Torres’ argument, but after Andrew Shaw got busted for three games, Torres is bound to get a whole lot more. Shaw’s victim, goalie Mike Smith, finished the game. And played the next one. Hossa did not. And may not.

“Who knows what will happen to Raffi Torres, I don’t know what to expect anymore. I don’t think anyone does, so we’ll see,” Jonathan Toews said. “It will probably be a surprise.”

Just as it seemed like the league had set a very low bar with how they dealt with Nashville’s Shea Weber and his head slam of Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg, they raised it higher than anyone expected when Shaw was banned for three games.

Bottom line: A charging and interference infraction combined with a head shot and a bad history should end Torres for the rest of the playoffs. If Shaw’s suspension was a message to the rest of the playoff teams then Torres didn’t understand it. Now simply comes the punishment. The time for messages is over.

CHICAGO -- Marian Hossa left the United Center in an ambulance.

That was after he was carted off the ice, his neck stabilized, his body supine.

That was after he lay on the ice for long, scary minutes as the United Center piped in “Blue Moon,” to chill out the crowd (it didn’t work) and cut replays from the scoreboard.

That was after Hossa’s head bounced off the ice.

That was after Phoenix Coyotes aggressor Raffi Torres left his feet and rammed his left shoulder into Hossa’s right jaw.

That was after Torres, skating from behind, sized up Hossa like he was Brandon Meriweather on skates.

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CHICAGO -- A quick look at the Chicago Blackhawks' 3-2 overtime loss to the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series on Tuesday night at the United Center.

How it happened: Phoenix’s Mikkel Boedker scored 13:15 into overtime, the third straight extra period in the series, to give the Coyotes a 2-1 series lead. A late first-period goal by Andrew Brunette on a tip of a Patrick Kane shot held up until early in the third period when Rostislav Klesla tied it from the point. That opened the floodgates for two more goals over the next minute of play. The Hawks retook the lead on Michael Frolik's first tally since Dec. 14 as he banged home a rebound of a Brent Seabrook shot. But not long after that Ray Whitney put in a rebound of his own to tie the game at 2-2.

What it means: The Hawks trail 2-1 in the series despite scoring the first goal in all three contests. They led twice on Tuesday but couldn’t hold onto their second lead for more than 30 seconds. Neither team has led by more than a goal at any time in the series, but the Hawks have come up short twice in overtime out of three tries.

Hossa injury: Hossa was blown up near center ice and taken off on a stretcher, but the Blackhawks said he left an area hospital under his own power. It’s unknown if he’s available for Game 4.

What’s next: Game 4 is Thursday at the United Center after a practice day on Wednesday for both teams.