Oilers’ Evander Kane suspended for Game 4; Avalanche moves on without Nazem Kadri for potential series-clinching sweep

EDMONTON, Alberta — Oilers left wing Evander Kane and Avalanche center Nazem Kadri will miss Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals between the teams because of suspension and injury, respectively.

Kane was assessed a one-game suspension by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Sunday for his check from behind that sent Kadri crashing into the end boards early in Colorado’s 4-1 victory in Game 3 on Saturday night at Rogers Place. Kane was issued a boarding major on the play and Kadri sustained what is believed to be a broken right thumb, according to sources.

The Avs, who take a commanding 3-0 lead in the seven-game series into Monday’s Game 4, are calling it an “upper-body” injury. Kadri could miss the rest of the postseason.

Colorado coach Jared Bednar on Sunday declined to confirm or deny reports that Kadri has a broken thumb.

Vegas center Jack Eichel played the last six weeks of the regular season with a broken thumb, Golden Knights executive George McPhee said last month.

“It was non-displaced, so he didn’t have to have surgery, but it was a bad fracture, and the guy didn’t miss a game,” McPhee said of Eichel.

Before Kane’s suspension was announced, Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said he didn’t deserve any further discipline.

“I wish (Kadri) the best. To me, we’ve seen that play, that type of hockey play occur during the playoffs and it’s unfortunate someone got hurt,” he said. “We took a five-minute penalty and we’re able to kill it off.”

He added: “We’ve seen those type of hockey plays here in the playoffs. It’s unfortunate he lost his balance and Nazem was injured. But for me, we did a good job of killing that five-minute penalty.”

Avs coach Jared Bednar said of Kadri after Game 3. “The hit — it’s the most dangerous play in hockey. He puts him in (the wall) headfirst from behind, eight feet off the boards. I’ll leave it at that.”

Bednar on Sunday didn’t have much more to say: “I think it’s a dangerous hit.”

Winger Mikko Rantanen is a candidate to replace Kadri as the second-line center in Game 4, allowing J.T. Compher — who stepped up for Kadri immediately after the injury — to remain as the third-line center. Colorado could also promote natural center Alex Newhook to second-line center and bring in Nicolas Aube-Kuble as a third-line winger.

Rantanen was expecting Kane to get suspended during Colorado’s optional practice on Sunday.

“Those are the things that you learn when you’re younger that you don’t do,” Rantanen said. “Just a dangerous play and I hope the league will make the right decision, which everybody probably knows what it should be.”

Avs goalie Pavel Francouz was the closest player to witness the hit. “It could have been a way worse outcome for Naz,” he said. “Really lucky in that situation. And I think it’s totally suspendable.”

Kane spoke to Edmonton reporters after the game. “I was just coming in on the backcheck. Puck went wide, kind of dribbled into the corner. I know he likes to reverse it. I was just trying to get up on him, that’s really all I did,” he said. “Unfortunately, he went into the boards awkwardly and hurt his hand.”

Kane is not a fan of the NHL’s DoPS:

“I definitely did not like the hit,” Avs captain Gabe Landeskog said of Kane’s play on Kadri. “It doesn’t look good and those are the scary ones you never like to see.”

He added: “You’re taught from a young age — you don’t do that.”

Kane, 30, who is with his fourth NHL team, has a troubled past. He was released by the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 8 after violating COVID-19 protocols. He previously served a 21-game suspension for submitting a fake vaccination card in October.

In September, Kane’s estranged wife, Anna Kane, filed a domestic violence restraining order against him.

In the 2019-20 season, Kane missed three games for abuse of an official, and another three games for elbowing Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk.