St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington’s playoff run could be over after a big contact with Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri on Saturday.
• Also read: The Avalanche finds its way to victory
At least that’s what The Athletic said on Sunday. The masked man is expected to be out for several weeks with a knee injury.
The incident happened in the first half. When Kadri tried to put a loose puck in the slot but contact with defender Calle Rosen caused both players to fall on the keeper. The latter writhed in pain before leaving the assembly. The Avalanche won 5-2.
“I only saw a loose puck,” Kadri defended after the match. I was right behind [Rosen] and tried to push the puck with my racquet. I think Rosen bumped into me and pushed me [vers Binnington]. You know, if it wasn’t for that, I probably wouldn’t have hit him.”
Legal or not?
Blues coach Craig Berube did not believe this explanation. “Look at Kadri’s reputation,” he said at a post-match press conference. That’s all I have to say.”
Kadri was actually suspended six times during his career for a total of 27 games, 16 of which were in the playoffs. But the Avalanche’s pilot, Jared Bednar, doesn’t share the same opinion as his counterpart.
“Either legal game or not,” he hammered, clearly annoyed. The two boys left [dans l’enclave] for the puck and they collided. It’s unfortunate, but it’s like [Samuel] Girard. It’s a legal game and it’s unfortunate, but that’s the way it is.”
Girard has indeed sustained a broken sternum after a tough defeat by Ivan Barbashev. His streak is over.
Historical
This isn’t the first incident between Binnington and Kadri. In October, the goalkeeper had picked up speed with his racquet and narrowly missed Kadri’s head.
After Saturday’s game, Binnington reportedly expressed his dissatisfaction with Kadri by throwing a bottle at him while Kadri was on TNT’s mic. “I don’t know if he just threw a bottle of water at me,” Kadri said, without the camera being able to capture the incident.
Without Binnington, the Blues will have to look to Ville Husso to bounce back in this second-round series, which the Avalanche lead 2-1. The 27-year-old Finn will need to pull himself together to help the Blues as he has recorded 3.38 goals against average and 0.891 percent in saves in four games so far in the spring tournament.