The NHL announced Saturday morning that Coyotes forward Raffi Torres has been suspended 25 games for his hit to the head of Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa in Game 3 of their first-round series last Tuesday.

Hossa was immobilized, carried off the ice on a stretcher, taken to a hospital and released later Tuesday night. He missed Game 4, and has been ruled out for Saturday's Game 5. The Coyotes lead the series 3-1.

The punishment comes a day after Torres had his hearing with the league in New York City.

League disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan said Saturday that Torres' hit was "a violation of three NHL rules -- interference, charging and illegal check to the head."

Should the 25 games not be served by the conclusion of this year's playoffs the remainder of the suspension will carry over to the 2012-13 regular season. Torres also will be prohibited from playing in any preseason games until he has completed his suspension, but only regular-season and playoff games will count toward the ban.

Torres has already served one game of the suspension, missing Game 4 of the series in Chicago on Thursday. Since his suspension is without pay, Torres will forfeit $21, 341.46 in salary for each game in which he is ineligible to play.

This is Torres’ third suspension for a controversial hit in the past 13 months.

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