Willie Mitchell levels Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews: Video

In the third period of Wednesday night’s game against the Vancouver Canucks, Willie Mitchell came out of the penalty box at just the wrong time for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Jonathan Toews was on the receiving end of a brutal Mitchell hit near center ice that ended the Blackhawk captain’s night early.

Canucks fans will bemoan the fact that the ensuing skirmish stopped play while the team was on a two-on-none fast break. Kris Versteeg was sent to the penalty box for roughing while avenging Toews’ demise.

“It was a clean hit,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said after the game. “He didn’t see (Mitchell) coming.”

Vancouver ended up coming back to win 3-2. Toews, meanwhile, will be evaluated today.