Photo: NBC Sports
The NHL Department of Player Safety announced on Friday night that Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri has been suspended for eight games for an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk in the Avalanche’s 6-3 win in Game 2 of the first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series.
After Faulk shot the puck from the slot, Kadri delivered a high hit to the head and received a match penalty for it at 6:30 of the third period.
This is the sixth time that the 30-year-old has been suspended, including the second for an illegal check to the head and third in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, in his 668-game NHL career.
If the Avalanche are eliminated before Kadri’s suspension expires, the 30-year-old will serve the rest at the start of the 2021-22 regular season.
Faulk left Game 2 and did not return. The 29-year-old was unavailable for Game 3 on Friday due to an upper-body injury.
Center Tyson Jost took his spot on Friday and center Carl Soderberg came into the lineup.
The Avalanche entered Friday’s game up 2-0 in the series. Game 4 at Enterprise Center will be on Sunday (5 PM ET, NBCSN).
The NHL did not announce how much money Kadri, who recorded 11 goals, 32 points, and a -7 rating in 56 regular-season games and one assist in the first two games of the series, will forfeit to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
By Harrison Brown
