Leafs prospect injured after big hit in AHL playoffs (Video)

The Toronto Marlies-Albany Devils AHL second-round series has been a physical one and things continued to get heated Tuesday night following a dangerous hit on Toronto forward Andreas Johnson.

With Albany holding a 3-1 lead, Johnson entered the Albany zone just after taking a Connor Carrick pass. There, Devils defenseman Dan Kelly stepped up a drilled Johnson, sending him to the ice after an elbow to the head.

Here’s a slow-mo closeup via The Leafs Nation:

Kelly was given a match penalty for a check to the head along with a major for fighting Zach Hyman. Johnson lay motionless on the ice for several minutes before being helped off by teammates and leaving the game.

The match penalty means an automatic suspension for Kelly pending a league review, which will likely end up as a multi-game ban. Johnson was taken to a local hospital for examination.

“That’s the worst kind of hit that there is in the game today,” said Marlies head coach Sheldon Keefe via the Albany Times Union. “The league I’m sure is going to have a look at that. I know they established a precedent for a hit like that earlier in the season with a 12-game suspension. I suspect our player is going to be out of the series, and I suspect theirs will be, as well, if not more than that.”

The game was only Johnson’s second in North America after joining the Marlies from Swedish side Frolunda.

The Marlies would even the series 2-2 with a 7-2 victory.

– – – – – – –

Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy

MORE FROM YAHOO HOCKEY: