CTV News. Sounds very similar to the story Esau just told. Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty suffered a severe concussion and four broken vertebrae in his neck after being the target of a crushing hit during a game against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. Canadiens coach Jacques Martin confirmed the injuries during a press conference on Wednesday, saying Pacioretty remained under observation in hospital. "The important thing for the organization right now is Max's recovery. We will follow the recommendation from the doctors," said Martin. Pacioretty was taken from the ice on a stretcher after defenceman Zdeno Chara crushed him into a post along the boards near the end of the second period. Pacioretty was in hospital overnight for examination, but a team spokesman said he had regained consciousness and had movement in his extremities. "It was an infraction," Martin said of the hit. "It is now up to the league to decide on the consequences." TSN's Darren Dreger reported that Chara will have a phone hearing with Mike Murphy, the NHL's vice-president of operations, on Wednesday. "That's not my style to hurt somebody," Chara told reporters following the game. "I always play hard and play physical, but I never try to hurt anybody." The hit comes amid heightened concern about concussions in the National Hockey League. Superstar Sidney Crosby remains on the sidelines after taking a serious hit during the NHL's Winter Classic in early January. Crosby returned following the game and was checked into the boards again four days later. He hasn't returned to the ice since. Next week, when the NHL's general managers hold their annual meeting, the issue of how to handle concussions in players is expected to be a hot topic of discussion. The news last week that former NHL enforcer Bob Probert had a degenerative brain disease has also stirred a debate about the safety of fighting in hockey. "It is not our role to accuse. There was an incident that occurred and there have been other incidences," Martin told reporters. "The league has to look at all those incidents that have had serious repercussions to certain players and I think at some point address it."