REPORT- DURING INTERVIEW BLUE’S JORDAN BINNINGHTON THROWS WATER BOTTLE AT AVALANCHE CENTER NAZEM KADRI.
Kadri collided with Binnington early in the first period, goalie exited game.
St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington threw a water bottle at Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri during a postgame interview Saturday following the Avalanche’s 5-2 win, according to multiple reports.
Kadri collided with Binnington, the team’s starting goalie, early in the first period of Game 3 when Kadri and Blues defenseman Calle Rosen crashed into the net while battling for a loose puck.
Binnington remained down after the collision, and he later left the game.
The goalie was replaced by backup Ville Husso, who gave up four goals on 23 shots, a huge setback for a Blues squad now down 2-1 in the series.
Kadri was talking about the collision during a postgame interview when he briefly paused and did a double-take, suggesting Binnington may have thrown a water bottle at him.
“Just tried to poke the puck free, I think their weak side defenseman came over and kind of bumped me and that’s what caused the collision. So, I hope he’s all right,” Kadri said.
“Not sure if he just threw a water bottle at me or not,” he added. “But, I mean, not much I can do, man … I’m just going for the loose puck.”
The Athletic reported that Binnington did throw the water bottle.
After the game, Blues head coach Craig Berube said Binnington was being evaluated for a lower-body injury. The team announced Sunday that Binnington will miss the rest of the second-round series.
Berube addressed Kadri’s role in the collision.
“Look at Kadri’s reputation. That’s all I’ve got to say,” Berube told reporters.
When asked about Berube’s comment, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said reputation “doesn’t mean anything.”
“It’s either a legal play or it’s not. We’ve talked about this with Naz and the way he’s trying to change his reputation, making sure that he’s playing through checks,” Bednar said. “That’s a legal play, and it’s unfortunate.”
The series resumes with Game 4 Monday night in St. Louis.
