Another contentious game involving Avalanche’s Nazem Kadri could force Blues goalie Jordan Binnington to miss the remainder of the second-round series between the two teams.
And Binnington apparently blames Kadri as he reportedly threw a water bottle at Kadri when the forward was doing a post-match interview on TNT.
Binnington exited Game 3 on Saturday less than seven minutes into the first half after Kadri rolled over Binnington while struggling Blues defender Calle Rosen for a loose puck just outside the crease. Binnington never returned as the Avalanche won 5-2 to take a 2-1 lead in the series. According to The Athletic, Binnington has a knee sprain that could sideline him for “several weeks”.
Kadri, 34, was banned for eight games in last year’s first-round series against the Blues for illegally checking Justin Faulk’s head. While with the Maple Leafs, Kadri was suspended in the first round of the 2018 and 2019 postseasons.
“Look at Kadri’s reputation. That’s all I have to say,” Blues coach Craig Berube told reporters after Saturday’s game.
The Avalanche’s Nazem Kadri collides with Blues goalie Jordan Binnington in Saturday’s first period. NHLI via Getty Images
Avalanche manager Jared Bednar said Kadri’s reputation “means nothing” and that it was “a legal game”.
Binnington, who led the Blues to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup as a rookie three years ago, wasn’t St. Louis’ starter early in the playoffs, but he took back Ville Husso’s job in Game 4 of the first round and earned his first Playoff win since cup win 2019.
While discussing the play on TNT’s postgame show, Kadri paused at one point and looked left twice. “I’m not sure if he just threw a water bottle at me or not,” Kadri said of Binnington. Later during his press conference, Kadri reiterated that he thought Binnington threw the bottle at him and The Athletic reported that it was indeed Binnington.
“I’m not sure if he just threw a water bottle at me” 😳
Nazem Kadri appears to have been pelted with a water bottle while discussing the collision with Binnington 🔎 pic.twitter.com/6XLbAdxEEm
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 22, 2022
Kadri blamed Rosen for his collision with Binnington.
“All I see is a loose puck,” he said. “I kind of just sat behind him and tried to poke him with my cane. And I think her defense attorney kind of bumped into me and pushed me into him. You know, if that hadn’t been the case, I don’t think I would have hit him at all. It’s a loose puck. I’m just trying to bang it in.”
The Blues will look to even the series in Game 4 on Monday night.