Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri is appealing his eight-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues' Justin Faulk, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has learned.
Kadri was given a match penalty and game misconduct for the hit, which happened midway through the third period of Game 2 of the first-round series between the Avalanche and Blues on Wednesday night. As Faulk went to take a shot on goal in the slot, Kadri hit Faulk with his shoulder, striking the defenceman's head.
Faulk was slow to get up, but managed to skate off on his own. He did not return to the game.
Kadri was offered, and accepted, an in-person hearing via Zoom on Friday for the hit, after which the suspension was confirmed.
The appeal will be heard by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. If, following the appeal, Kadri is unsatisfied with the ruling, he can appeal the ruling again to an independent arbitrator.
This suspension, if it stands, will mark the sixth time Kadri has been suspended by the NHL, totalling 16 playoff games and 11 regular-season games.
