The NHL suspended Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri on Monday for the remainder of their first-round playoff series, following his high hit on Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk on Saturday.
Kadri received a major penalty for cross-checking and a game misconduct after the incident late in the third period of Game 2. DeBrusk was standing near the boards when Kadri hit him high with his stick, knocking him to the ice.
Game 3 is Monday night in Toronto.
The NHL Department of Player Safety issued its ruling following an in-person hearing. The Department of Player Safety said it considered Kadri a repeat offender. This is Kadri’s fifth career suspension and the second in the playoffs in as many seasons, as he was suspended three games a year ago for boarding Boston’s Tommy Wingels.
As a repeat offender, Kadri will lose a larger percentage of his average annual salary.
Kadri has 48 hours to alert the league if he plans to appeal the decision.
Kadri’s hit on DeBrusk could be seen as retaliatory. In the second period, DeBrusk collided with Kadri in what appeared to be a knee-on-knee hit. Kadri was down on the ice for several minutes and had to exit the game. No penalty was called on the play.
Kadri scored the Leafs’ only goal as the Bruins won 4-1 to tie the series at one game apiece.
Toronto coach Mike Babcock said ahead of the suspension ruling that he would play either William Nylander or Patrick Marleau in Kadri’s slot as the team’s third-line center.