Kaboom: 5 biggest hits of the NHL season
Spectacular goals, sweet feeds, monster slap shots and highway-robbery saves. These are some of the highlights that make hockey such an exciting game to watch.
But what would hockey be without big hits?
It's hockey nature to enjoy a bone-crunching hit. Heck, even players give respect to their fellow combatants after being rocked by a biggie - as long as it was clean.
Here are the five biggest hits of the season. Brace yourselves.
Predators' Ellis flattens Oilers' Hall
Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall should have danced a little more on this play because it looked like a tractor beam pulled Hall right into this monstrous hit from Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis.
The youngster is absolutely annihilated, while Ellis barely bats an eye.
Stars' Roussel sends Maple Leafs' Kessel for a joyride
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel loves to fly, but normally it's up the wing on a scoring chance.
The Dallas Stars' Antoine Roussel decided to show Kessel a new ride, upending the forward with a sensational hit.
Should we call this one Air Kessel?
Stars' Demers flips Kings' Stoll like a pizza pie
Back-to-back hits from the Stars.
Jason Demers' hit on Los Angeles Kings forward Jarret Stoll may be even better than Roussel's on Kessel.
Demers times the hit perfectly and there's something beautiful about watching a man get flipped like a coin.
Props to you Demers. This was a beauty.
Blackhawks' Shaw benches Predators' Neal
Andrew Shaw of the Chicago Blackhawks was wonderful to watch on this play.
Not only does he show off some fancy footwork spinning around the Predators' Mike Ribeiro, he follows it up by dumping James Neal into the Blackhawks bench, which made the crowd go bonkers in Nashville.
What a dandy!
Smith-Pelly crushes Oshie into boards
There's something about big air on hits that makes them even better to watch.
Montreal Canadiens forward Devante Smith-Pelly, skating as a member of the Anaheim Ducks in this video, unleashes some anger on St. Louis Blues forward T.J. Oshie.
The air, the sound of the boards, the rattling glass. You could watch this baby over and over again.