Heavy hits keep coming in the 2016 NHL season

IF you ever doubted the physicality of ice hockey, then check out the biggest hits of the 2016 NHL season so far.

Kris Letang is sent flying into the glass by Ryan Callahan.

HERE’S a cold-blooded playoff hockey hit, up close and personal.

Watch below as Tampa Bay’s Ryan Callahan lays out Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Here's another look at the Callahan hit on Letang pic.twitter.com/1yUp5Uzbva

— Jeremy Houghtaling (@JGHoughtaling) May 14, 2016

Letang, who has dealt with concussions during his career, laid motionless for several seconds but skated off under his own power. He missed about 10 minutes of game time before returning. Callahan earned a 5-minute major penalty but did not receive a game misconduct.

Not big enough for you? How about this shot from Alexei Emelin? The St Montreal Candiens defenseman checked Paul Stastny so hard he ended up parallel to the ice in midair:

And just to keep the punishing hits coming here’s a YouTube with the greatest shots from the season so far, enjoy:

Originally published as Heavy hits keep coming in the 2016 NHL season