Vladimir Tarasenko injury: Blues rookie leaves after hit from Mark Olver

It's a sad fact that concussions are becoming as commonplace in the NHL as they are in the NFL. But it's a fact nonetheless, and one that Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko might have just learned the hard way Wednesday night.

The electric Blues rookie suffered what looked like a hard hit to the head from Avalanche forward Mark Olver in the third period, forcing him to leave the ice and the game for good. Here's the hit:

At first glance it certainly doesn't look good. Olver catches Tarasenko unawares and seemed to lead with his shoulder or elbow right into Tarasenko's head. The rookie immediately went limp and fell to the ice. This screengrab from Adrian Dater of the Denver Post shows just how dazed Tarasenko was after the play:

Much like the Jannik Hansen-Marian Hossa incident earlier this week, expect some swift response from Brendan Shanahan and the NHL about what kind of punishment, if any, Olver will receive. There has been no word on Tarasenko's condition from the Blues.