Image via Complex Original
Now that the 2011-12 NHL regular season is officially over, it's time to look back on the year's greatest highlights as we await the Stanley Cup playoffs (starts on Wednesday, April 11). Every major sport has particular plays that make fans go H.A.M. In the NBA it's a great dunks, the MLB has home runs, and the NFL has big hits. But what's more vicious than being hit by another dude who's going full speed? Being hit by that same guy who's going full speed on skates! We've compiled a list of the nastiest collisions including a hit where a the victim starts cooking, and another where one player loses half of his equipment. So, get your popcorn ready (*T.O. circa '07 voice*) and peep The Most Brutal Hits of the 2011-2012 NHL Season.
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25. And He's Airborne
Date: 2/4/2012
Game: Penguins @ Bruins
Hit By: Brooks Orpik
Victim: Daniel Paille
Yeah, it wasn't quite "25 feet" but Paille definitely got some air. Who says hockey players don't have hops?
24. What's Beef?
Date: 2/29/2012
Game: Penguins @ Stars
Hit By: Eric Nystrom
Victim: Kris Letang
Dirty hit or not, fans can always rejoice when sticks go flying and teammates go after the guy. This kind of sports entertainment reminds us of the WWE. Minus scripts and choreography, of course.
23. Sit Down, Lombardi!
Date: 11/2/2011
Game: Maple Leafs @ Devils
Hit By: Anton Volchenkov
Victim: Matthew Lombardi
So brutal, Volchenkov lives up to his scary name prowess and sons Lombardi. What's the Russian translation for badass?
22. In the Face!
Date: 10/24/2011
Game: Panthers @ Canadiens
Hit By: Matt Bradley
Victim: David Desharnais
Forget the five fingers, what did the brolic shoulder say to the face?! #takeittothehead
21. The Most Phsyical Line Change Ever
Date: 2/4/2012
Game: Wild @ Stars
Hit By: Jed Ortmeyer
Victim: Jake Dowell
This was just embarrassing, we hope the coach benched him on principle.
20. Rinaldo Sons Stepan
Date: 2/11/2012
Hit By: Zac Rinaldo
Victim: Derek Stepan
Game: Rangers @ Flyers
Rinaldo's just showing off, he knocked Stepan off his feet from point-blank range. #tootough
19. Heads Up!
Date: 10/11/2011
Game: Wild @ Senators
Hit By: Chris Neil
Victim: Clayton Stoner
A Stoner taking a hit? Ya don't say!
18. Sid The Kid Gets Tackled
Date: 3/25/2012
Game: Devils @ Penguins
Hit By: Andy Greene
Victim: Sidney Crosby
Considering Crosby's medical history, we were considering leaving this one off the list but it looks like the hit had little effect on him. Sidebar: Props to Andy Greene for his above-average open field tackling technique.
17. Oops
Date: 3/1/2012
Game: Wild @ Canadiens
Hit By: Alexei Emelin
Victim: Erik Cole
"Teamwork on 3! 1, 2—Oh shit!"
16. Welcome to the Boards
Date: 2/1/2012
Game: Stars @ Ducks
Hit By: Mark Fistric
Victim: Bobby Ryan
Fistric looks like one of those elementary school bullies in this clip but instead of lunch money he's coming after the puck. Ouch, yikes, and all that good stuff.
15. He Might Need a Second
Date: 1/31/2012
Game: Maple Leafs @ Penguins
Hit By: Nazem Kadri
Victim: Paul Martin
This one's good for 2 reasons: 1. It's a great hit, 2. Martin takes a second to acknowledge how great a hit it was. #realrecognizereal
14. Phaneuf Lights Em Up
Date: 11/5/2011
Game: Bruins @ Maple Leafs
Hit By: Dion Phaneuf
Victim: Chris Kelly
Shoulder meet head, head meet floor.
13. The Bad Kind of Sandwich
Date: 10/14/2011
Game: Hurricanes @ Sabres
Hit By: Bryan Allen
Victim: Jason Pominville
It's rare to see a head flailing around like that in any sport, it's damn fun to watch though. #unlesshegothurt #wearentmonsters #maybe
12. Vicious Head Game (II)
Date: 2/12/2012
Game: Flyers @ Red Wings
Hit By: Zac Rinaldo
Victim: Jonathan Ericsson
The equivalent of getting hit so hard you fall out your shoes, Rinaldo strikes again.
11. Madden NHL 2012?
Date: 1/22/2012
Game: Bruins @ Flyers
Hit By: Brayden Schenn
Victim: Steven Kampfer
Kampfer hit up on his right joystick, Schenn went to sleep.
10. And There's Blood
Date: 2/4/2012
Game: Red Wings @ Oilers
Hit By: Niklas Kronwall
Victim: Ales Hemsky
Hemsky gets Kronwalled, then his teammates jump in like a Source Awards fight. We blame hip-hop.
9. What Goes Around Comes Around
Date: 3/3/2012
Game: Maple Leafs @ Canadiens
Hit By: Mike Komisarek
Victim: Chris Campoli
Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots, shots, everybody!
8. Oh, You Thought You Were Safe?
Date: 3/1/2012
Hit By: Erik Gudbranson
Victim: Blake Wheeler
Game: Panthers @ Jets
Shit is real out here, son. Sidebar: We love out Gudbranson kept it moving afterward. None of that staredown fuckery we see in other sprots.
7. Thank You BasedGod!
Date: 3/6/2012
Game: Red Wings @ Flyers
Hit By: Niklas Kronwall
Victim: Jakub Voracek
SMH. Kronwall hit dude so hard he started cooking on 'em.
6. One Guy Goes Low, the Other Goes Hard
Date: 10/6/2011
Game: Canadiens @ Maple Leafs
Hit By: Mike Brown
Victim: Chris Campoli
Brown to Campoli: "This is not what you want, fam." Campoli's response: "Yeah, you're right."
5. Toss Him Like a Rag Doll
Date: 3/8/2012
Game: Kings @ Blue Jackets
Hit By: Dustin Penner
Victim: Darryl Boyce
Penner makes Boyce look small right here, we would have preferred he follow the body slam up with a Hulk Hogan leg drop though. Just sayin'.
4. Was It Worth It?
Date: 2/25/2012
Game: Bruins @ Senators
Hit By: Chris Neil
Victim: Johnny Boychuk
Hitting 101: Your victim is supposed to stay down longer than you. #cmonson
3. Goon Alert
Date: 12/5/2011
Game: Maple Leafs @ Rangers
Hit By: Dion Phaneuf
Victim: Mike Sauer
Phaneuf lays somebody else out and Sauer's face tells the whole story on this one. Our guess for what he was thinking? Right here.
2. Take a Seat
Date: 10/18/2011
Game: Penguins @ Wild
Hit By: Marco Scandella
Victim: Richard Park
That's it, we're convinced hockey is the gulliest pro sport of them all. Right next to MMA, of course.
1. Everything Must Go!
Date: 10/8/2011
Game: Senators @ Maple Leafs
Hit By: Dion Phaneuf
Victim: Stephane Da Costa
Every element for a good hit: Speed, great force, victim loses equipment, and a fight ensues shortly thereafter. Phaneuf gets the crown for hit of the year. #KING