Kadri says Binnington threw water bottle at him after dramatic Game 3
Nazem Kadri is at the center of another, yet less serious, playoff controversy.
The pesky Colorado Avalanche forward said St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington threw a water bottle at him during a postgame interview following Saturday's Game 3 victory.
The Athletic's Peter Baugh spoke to two people who confirmed it was Binnington who threw the bottle.
The NHL isn't expected to discipline Binnington for throwing it, a league spokesperson told The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford.
A collision between Kadri and Binnington in the first period knocked the Blues netminder out of the contest. Binnington will miss the remainder of the series after sustaining a lower-body injury on the play.
Hockey Diversity Alliance chairman Akim Aliu said Sunday that Kadri had been targeted by racist attacks since the incident, and law enforcement intervened.
Talked to @43_kadri
— Akim Aliu (@Dreamer_Aliu78) May 22, 2022
About his inadvertent collision w Binnington. Naz has been subject to so many racist attacks and threats since last night that police had to be brought in. Racist attacks like this have no place in hockey and should be investigated and reported on.
Kadri and Binnington have a bit of history. In October, Binnington swung his stick at the forward during a regular-season matchup between the two clubs.
Jordan Binnington takes a swing with his stick at Kadri’s head. No call. This guys such a nut case pic.twitter.com/dbD0lqEIDy
— Drew Livingstone (@ProducerDrew_) October 29, 2021
Kadri was suspended eight games last postseason for a hit to the head on Blues defenseman Justin Faulk. It was the third playoff ban of Kadri's career after he was disciplined in consecutive years as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018 and 2019.
Kadri played a key role in Colorado's 5-2 victory on Saturday, registering a goal and an assist before the postgame drama.