The Remainder Of The Series

After enjoying a shocking win by the Winnipeg Jets against the Edmonton Oilers in Game One of their series, I changed the channel over to the Colorado-St. Louis series. It should come as no surprise that Colorado looks to be in control of this series, but things came apart tonight as Nazem Kadri was escorted off the ice for a hit that was hard to watch as St. Louis defenceman Justin Faulk was on the receiving end of a vicious headshot from Kadri. I'm here to tell you I want to see this check punished heavily, and there should be no reason why Kadri returns to play any further games against the Blues for as long as this series goes.

First, let's examine the crime that Kadri committed.

There is no way that Kadri didn't know he hit Faulk's head there. None. It's the only place he made contact with Faulk. Whenever you see a player's head snap like that, it's the initial point of contact. There's no arguing this - that's a fact.

Kadri was handed a major penalty and a game misconduct - the correct in-game penalty - which automatically prompts a chat with the Department of Player Safety. It's at this point where Kadri should have the proverbial book thrown at him because Kadri being suspended in the playoffs seems to be an annual rite of passage.

We'll visit 2019 where Kadri, as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kadri cross-checked Boston's Jake DeBrusk in the face following a heavy hit that DeBrusk laid on Patrick Marleau in Game Two of the series. It could be that Kadri was hunting for revenge on DeBrusk who caught him knee-on-knee earlier in Game Two that went unpunished, but I'm not here to make excuses for anyone cross-checking an opponent in the face. Kadri was suspended for the remainder of the series against Boston - a total of five games - after the Maple Leafs were eliminated 4-3 in the seven-game series.

We can also reference 2018 when Kadri, while with the Leafs, threw a vicious hit on Boston's Tommy Wingels in Game One who was on his knees and facing the boards when Kadri came flying in and pasted him against the dasher. The result of his check earned Kadri a three-game suspension in a series where Boston would lead 3-1 through the four games where Kadri sat before eventually eliminating the Leafs in seven games.

Based on his past transgressions, the logical move for Kadri would be to suspend him a minimum of five games again. Assuming the Avalanche sweep the Blues after winning tonight's game to go up 2-0, that would mean that Kadri would sit for the first three games of the next series when it comes to playing either Vegas or Minnesota. In both cases, Kadri is more valuable on the ice for the Avalanche than sitting in the press box, so I'm hoping the Department of Player Safety has its head screwed on right because this the third time that Kadri has targeted an opponent's head with a violent act.

We'll find out tomorrow what punishment is handed down to Nazem Kadri, but let me be very clear on this: headshots belong nowhere in the game of hockey. Here's hoping that Justin Faulk is alright after that vicious, dirty, and cowardly hit.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!