Puck don’t lie.
Nazem Kadri has had heck of a few days: He ended Jordan Binnington’s series after an inadvertent collision with the goalie; Binnington threw a water bottle at him in a post-game press conference; He received death threats and racist taunts for the collision with the Blues goaltender.
Well, Kadri earned a modicum of revenge in Monday night’s Game 4 with a trio of goals.
First, Kadri found the net with his first goal amid a barrage of Avalanche offense, with a glove-side snipe that gave Colorado the lead in the second.
Two goals in 1:23 from the Avalanche. Nazem Kadri makes it 2-1 pic.twitter.com/6J3pY44glc
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) May 24, 2022
To make matters better — or worse, depending which side you’re on — Kadri seemed to take a peek and a point at Binnington, who was up in a luxury box watching the action.
“For those who hate, that was for them.”
Nazem Kadri spoke to the panel about his performance tonight in St. Louis and dealing with the threats he received after Game 3 pic.twitter.com/w88yIGm7Yf
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) May 24, 2022
MORE: Kadri receives death threats, hate speech
Later, after the Blues took a pair of penalties — and Kadri refusing to retaliate for getting run at — the Colorado forward decided to net another goal, his second on the night.
Blues take 2 penalties, Kadri gets revenge, scoring his 2nd🔥🚨#stlblues | #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/J1iQBN1jkG
— The Ray & Dregs Hockey Podcast (@rayanddregs) May 24, 2022
The goal wasn’t entirely well received, understandably so, by St. Louis. Forward David Perron appeared to throw an elbow at Kadri following the goal, but Kadri just avoided a collision.
Perron after the goal is scored… pic.twitter.com/3yatFCNlf2
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) May 24, 2022
Kadri’s second goal would boost Colorado to a commanding 4-1 lead, but a pair of power play goals late in the second would keep St. Louis in it heading into the third.
Then, midway through the third period, Kadri netted another goal to complete the hat trick, going stick side and giving Colorado a much-needed insurance score.
A sight no Blues fan wants to see.
Nazem Kadri has his first playoff hat trick and restores Colorado’s two-goal cushion 🎩
🎥 @BR_OpenIcepic.twitter.com/VhKjdsChSq
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 24, 2022
“I just want to say how proud we are of Naz,” Avs defenseman Erik Johnson said postgame.
To go through all that crap the last couple of days, no person should go through that. And he sure responded. I felt good for him. Imagine being in his situation? No human being should have to receive that type of treatment, especially with a hockey game. It’s just insane. That being said, I think he liked being the villain tonight.
Kadri also pointed to comments made by Blues head coach Craig Berube as a motivator.
Nazem Kadri: “I guess I needed some fuel. I was pretty upset from the last couple days.”
He was not happy with Craig Berube’s comments:
“Starting with their head coach, he made some comments I wasn’t a fan of. I guess he’s never heard of bulletin board material.”— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) May 24, 2022
The Avalanche took Game 4 by the score of 6-3 to take a 3-1 series lead.
Revenge is a dish best served on ice.