Per Sportsnet's John Shannon, Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri will have a phone hearing with NHL Director of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan at 1pm this afternoon after receiving a match penalty in the 2-1 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild.
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The Maple Leafs suffered a 2-1 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center Wednesday night, but of more concern may be the status of center Nazem Kadri, who was given a match penalty and ejected from the game for a hit on the Wild’s Mikael Granlund in the third period.
Kadri was particularly undisciplined, compiling 19 PIM's in the game. He collided with Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom early in the first period, driving the Wild starter from the game in favor of backup Josh Harding and received a minor for goaltender interference.
After a scoreless first, Toronto took the lead at 7:32 of the second period, when Mason Raymond converted a rebound of a Morgan Rielly point shot past Harding.
The Leafs did not generate many chances in the second half of the game and relied on the goaltending of Jonathan Bernier, who was at the top of his game, stopping 27 of 28 shots in the final two periods that enabled Toronto to earn a valuable point.
Toronto’s special teams were also in fine form, as their only goal was produced on the power play and were able to successfully kill off five Minnesota power plays, including Kadri’s five-minute major for the match penalty.
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Minnesota finally tied the game late in the third as Phil Kessel’s turnover in his own zone led to Zach Parise’s ninth goal of the year, which deflected off Kessel’s skate past Bernier.
Toronto had all three shots in overtime and nearly won the game but Rielly was denied his first NHL goal on a close-in chance by Harding’s right pad. Parise and Leaf killer Jason Pominville scored to give the Wild their second straight victory and improve their record to 11-4-4, while the Leafs move into a second place tie with Boston and Detroit with the point earned in the loss.
With both Tyler Bozak and Dave Bolland out of the lineup, the Leafs could ill afford to lose Kadri as they are dangerously thin up the middle with converted winger James van Riemsdyk, Jay McClement and Jerred Smithson.
According to TSN’s Jonas Siegel, head coach Randy Carlyle comments after the game stated that Kadri’s hit was not a head hit.
Does either hit merit a review from the league or a suspension?
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