Nazem Kadri suspended eight games

Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri has been suspended 8 games for a hit to the head of Blues defenseman Justin Faulk.

Kadri was assessed a match penalty and game misconduct midway through the third period of Colorado’s 6-3 victory over the Blues Wednesday night.

Though he was able to skate off under his own power, Faulk lay on the ice for several minutes and was clearly in physical distress. He did not return to the game and is doubtful to return for Game 3 in St. Louis Friday night.

Faulk’s teammates weighed in after the game:

“The guy can’t control himself. In the playoffs he’s a repeat offender, bad hits,” Brayden Schenn said. “He’s got a guy in a vulnerable position and picks nothing but the head... We need to focus on Games 3-4 and the league will take care of those guys’ hits.”

An accurate statement, albeit an ironic one given than Schenn is the one who threw an incredibly dangerous knee at Mikko Rantanen in the opening period of this first round series.

Kadri has been suspended in the playoffs twice before. The most recent was in April 2019 when he was suspended for the “remainder of the series” for a cross-check on Boston’s Jake DeBrusk while playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In total, this will be Kadri’s sixth suspension since 2013.