Blackhawks' Connor Murphy ejected after landing hit to head of Lightning's Erik Cernak

Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Connor Murphy will likely be hearing from the NHL Department of Player Safety after landing an ugly hit to the head of Tampa Bay Lighting defenceman Erik Cernak on Sunday.

With Sunday's contest tied at 3-3, Cernak burst into the offensive zone and flew past Blackhawks defender Nikita Zadorov, gamely stick-checking him to corral the puck. As Cernak established possession with his head down, Murphy swung around from the other side of the net and delivered a crushing blow to the head, with his feet leaving the ice as Cernak was beginning to look up.

The refs blew the whistle immediately, as Cernak stayed down the ice before leaving the game, and did not return. Murphy received a match penalty and was ejected.

Below is the hit in question:

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper did not provide an update on Cernak's status and did not want to discuss Murphy's hit after the game.

It's been a week full of ugly hits to the head, unfortunately. San Jose's Joachim Blichfeld was suspended two games after landing a head shot on Colorado superstar Nathan MacKinnon, while Washington's Tom Wilson earned a seven-game suspension after sending Boston's Brandon Carlo to the hospital with a high hit.

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