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Torres vows to change his ways

Marian Hossa, Raffi Torres

CORRECTS HOSSA FROM SLOVAKIA, NOT RUSSIA - Chicago Blackhawks’ Marian Hossa (81) of Slovakia, falls down after taking a hit from Phoenix Coyotes’ Raffi Torres (37) during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Chicago, Tuesday, April 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

AP

If the first step is admitting you have a problem, then Coyotes forward Raffi Torres is on his way to becoming a more honest hockey player.

Torres was handed a monster 25-game suspension (later reduced to 21 games) for his late hit on Chicago forward Marian Hossa during the first round of the 2011 playoffs.

As a result, he’s aiming to make some changes.

“I’ve gone back and watched a lot of video of the way I need to play,” Torres told the Arizona Republic.

“At the end of the day, the hit was a little late and it was a little high…I’ll just focus on my timing, being a little more smarter, and instead of launching myself just remember to keep my feet on the ice and kind of go through guys.”

Torres originally defended himself, saying he “felt like it was a hockey play” and that he was just trying to finish his hit.