Nazem Kadri out for rest of Western Conference Final; Hearing coming for Evander Kane?

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told reporters he expects Nazem Kadri to miss at least the rest of the Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers as a result of a hit thrown by Evander Kane in the first period of Game 3 on Saturday.

Kadri, 31, crashed awkwardly into the boards after being shoved from behind by Kane just over a minute into the opening frame. He left the game immediately afterwards and did not return.

Kane was assessed a five-minute major for boarding on the play but did not receive a misconduct. The National Hockey League Department of Player Safety automatically reviews all major penalties to determine whether any supplemental discipline is warranted.

evander kane gets called for a five-minute boarding after taking nazem kadri hard into the boards. full speed clip + replays. pic.twitter.com/XG35sxmBdP

— zach laing (@zjlaing) June 5, 2022

Bednar was heavily critical of the hit in his post-game press conference.

“He’ll be out through this series at least, if not longer,” Bednar said. “The hit is the most dangerous hit in hockey, from behind, eight feet off the boards. I’ll leave it at that.”

Kadri has been one of Colorado’s most impactful players all season long, finishing third on the team with 87 points (28 goals, 59 assists) in 71 games during the 2021–22 regular season and adding 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in his first 13 games of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said he’s “sure” the Department of Player Safety will take a look at the hit.

 “I was on the bench but I don’t like it,” Landeskog said. “Those are the ones that kind of gives you the chills down your spine, and you’re taught from a young age that you don’t do that, and especially in that distance from the boards. It’s a dangerous play, and, yeah, I don’t know what else to say.”

Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft said he hasn’t yet had an opportunity to review the play.

The Avalanche defeated the Oilers by a 4–2 score on Saturday night to take a 3–0 series lead in the Western Conference Final. Game 4 is slated to take place at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Monday evening.