NHL Big Hits

SI Staff | Oct 19, 2006

NHL Big Hits

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In what may be the most thunderous check of the young season, Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf sent Senators winger Denis Hamel skyward with an open-ice hit on Oct. 12 in Ottawa.

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Ryan Kesler of the Canucks tried mightily to deposit Edmonton's Matt Greene on Vancouver's bench at General Motors Place on Oct. 16.

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Mike Modano of the Stars did not appear to enjoy being treated rudely by Sean Avery of the Kings on Oct. 14 in Los Angeles.

AP

Nashville winger J.P. Dumont looks like he's on his way to dreamland after a sudden meeting with Coyotes defenseman Ed Jovanovski on Oct. 14.

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Shark hittin': Lukas Krajicek of the Canucks elevated the play of the Sharks' Jonathan Cheechoo during their collision at General Motors Place on Oct. 13.

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Chicago defenseman Adrian Aucoin appears to have taken Brad Richardson's head off while sending him into the boards as the Blackhawks battled the Avalanche on Oct. 16 in Colorado.

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Roman Polak of the Blues was a pain in the glass for Yan Stastny of the Bruins during their Oct. 12 game at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

AP

Kris Draper of the Red Wings crowned and downed the Kings' Derek Armstrong with a royal hit on Oct. 16 in Los Angeles.

AP

Jarret Stoll of the Oilers was sent flying on Oct. 7, courtesy of Calgary's rockin' Robyn Regehr.

AP

Michael Peca of the Maple Leafs gave the bold shoulder to Garth Murray of the rival Canadiens during the teams' first meeting of the season, in Toronto on Oct. 7.

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Sergei Zubov of the Stars likely saw them after his mug kissed the boards, thanks to a bone-rattler by Erik Rasmussen of the Devils on Oct. 7 in Dallas.

AP

Dion Phaneuf's magical power to make opposing players fly was on display in Montreal on Oct. 17. In this case, the Canadiens' Sergei Samsonov was sent packing.