Every off season, we here at Defending Big D vote to determine which play (hit, goal or save) was the play of the year. It seems as though in the glamor of the Jamie Benn break away goal the hard hits of Mark Fistric or the snappy glove save of Kari Lehtonen are easily overlooked.

This season, we're going to vote on a play of the year in each of the three categories: hits, saves and goals. This week, we're looking at the hits. Often times explosive, and sometimes even border line, hits within a game can shift momentum or send a message. And sometimes they can lead to unexpected humor, like putting a guy through the glass on opening night.

After the jump, we have the candidates for hit of the year for the Dallas Stars for the second half of the season - January to April. The top three vote-getters in each group (see group one here) will have a run off on Thursday to determine the hit of the year.

Trevor Daley clears Jason Blake out of the crease, January 10, 2012

Mark Fistric hip checks Jiri Hudler, January 17, 2012

Stephane Robidas plants Teemu Selanne into the bench, January 24, 2012

Stephane Robidas takes out Justin Faulk, February 4, 2012

Philip Larsen sends Kyle Clifford (and himself) to the ice, February 12, 2012

Ryan Garbutt hits Lars Eller at the blueline, February 21, 2012

Steve Ott and M Kruger end up in the bench, February 23, 2012

Michael Ryder stands up Jet Ortmeyer, March 13, 2012

Adam Pardy shoves Alexander Burmistrov, March 14, 2012

Vernon Fiddler works Brent Seabrook in the corner, March 16, 2012

Steve Ott makes sure Ryan Klesla is awake, March 20, 2012

Brenden Dillon with a big hit on TJ Oshie in his first NHL game, April 7, 2012