Brooks Orpik hit on Jonathan Toews

The Pens big hitting defenseman drilled Chicago captain Jonathan Toews. Was it clean? Should it be legal? How is Toews? We dive into all the details.

After the game, the Blackhawks announced that Toews isn't majorly injured and is considered day-to-day. Which is the best thing, because no player should get hurt in what's basically a meaningless inter-conference game.

Talking heads (the same ones that called Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby crackheads last year) droned on about the hit, but we won't oblige them with a response. Really you have a big collision, head is not the point of contact, puck was in the area a split second earlier, clean hit. Hard hit, big hit, but that's hockey.

If this doesn't happen to a team captain who is one of the finest players in the sport, it probably doesn't get a spotlight or need this post. But it did, so oh well. Again, the best part is the knowledge that this won't be a major injury that will affect Chicago's playoff.

And what those involved said:

[Brooks Orpik] is a heavy hitter. That’s his game. It’s never easy to play against him. Sometimes, the calls are on the edge." -- Chicago forward (and former Penguin) Marian Hossa

"It was a big hit. I didn’t really break it down. I just saw it during the play and you could tell he was trying to hit him hard...He knew who he was hitting. It’s tough when you see your captain get hit like that." -- Patrick Sharp (who apparently thinks you can't hit a captain?)

"There was no penalty. That hit happens ten times every game." -- Brooks Orpik

"I don't have knowledge of Mr. Milbury's comments. I can't imagine what they could be." Pens coach Dan Bylsma