Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri will have an in-person hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Friday afternoon regarding an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk.
The in-person hearing with be held via Zoom.
A player is offered an in-person hearing if the infraction might require a suspension of six games or more.
Kadri, 30, is facing his third suspension in four years during the first round of the playoffs. The then-Toronto Maple Leafs forward was banned three games after a high hit on Boston forward Tommy Wingels in 2018 and suspended for the remainder of the opening round following a cross-check to the head of Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk in Game 2 of their series.
Several members of the Blues were adamant that Kadri should be suspended for an illegal hit that knocked Faulk out of Wednesday’s 6-3 loss in Game 2 of their playoff series.
Faulk was hit in the head by Kadri early in the third period, resulting in a major and a match penalty for Kadri.
That wasn’t enough for Blues captain Ryan O’Reilly.
“That’s a very dangerous hit. It’s gotta be a suspension,” O’Reilly said. “He’s a repeat offender. It’s completely uncalled for.”
“The guy can’t control himself,” St. Louis center Brayden Schenn added.
The Avalanche lead the series 2-0 heading into Game 3 on Friday night in St. Louis. Faulk’s status for the game was unclear.
–Field Level Media
