NHL linesman Andy McElman took a punch to the face while trying to break up a scuffle in tonight's game between the Avalanche and Blackhawks.


The altercation started when Chicago's Michal Rozsival cross-checked Colorado's Maxime Talbot in the back after the whistle. The two grabbed each other and started shoving, and while McElman came in to intervene, Rozsival tried to shake off Talbot and instead hit McElman, knocking the linesman down.

No penalties were handed out for the official-punching.