Taylor Hall Knocked Out Philip Larsen With a Vicious Hit

Philip Larsen of the Vancouver Canucks had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher on Tuesday night after a huge hit by the New Jersey Devils’ Taylor Hall. Larsen was taken to the hospital, but was alert and moving all his extremities. The hit was vicious, but clean. Via ESPN:

"“I’m looking to make contact there, but I never want to see a guy laying on the ice like that,” Hall said. “I only know how to play the game one way, and you’ve got to play it hard. I feel terrible. He’s a former teammate of mine. I would have loved to make a hit there and continue the play. I hope he’s all right.”"

Despite Hall’s intentions and the state of Laresen, Hockey’s Unwritten Rules had to be immediately enforced. Players stepped over the motionless body of a teammate and everyone gathered around to push and shove as goalie Jacob Markstrom tried to protect his unconscious teammate. Larsen is lucky he didn’t get cut or kicked.