Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri was the busiest man in Boston on Saturday night in what was a physical game against the Bruins, but he may have taken things too far.
After a fast-paced Game 1, the rough stuff between the Leafs and Bruins ratcheted up several notches in Game 2 and Kadri was in the middle of most of it. The Leafs’ lone goal-scorer of the night was warring with Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk all game — the two exchanged more than a few verbal and physical jabs over the course of 60 minutes — and Kadri even had an injury scare after a knee-on-knee collision with his sparring opponent.
But late in the third period with emotions starting to boil over, Kadri landed himself in hot water when he cross-checked DeBrusk in the face. The incident occurred with six minutes remaining in the game when Kadri took exception to DeBrusk’s hard hit on Patrick Marleau. Marleau was fine, jumping up immediately after contact, but Kadri’s retaliatory actions sent DeBrusk falling to the ice where he remained while a small scrum ensued.
UPDATE: The NHL Department of Player Safety announced later Saturday that Kadri has been offered an in-person hearing, which means he can be suspended more than five games.
Kadri was given a five-minute major for cross-checking and a game misconduct. If suspended, it won’t be his first time sitting out playoff games at the decision of the player safety department. Just last year, the forward earned himself a three-game suspension for boarding then-Bruins forward Tommy Wingels in Game 1 of the teams’ first-round series.
The Bruins went on to win 4-1 Saturday to tie the series at one game apiece. Game 3 will take place in Toronto on Monday night at 7 p.m. ET.
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