The NHL has fined St. Louis Blues striker David Perron $ 5,000 for cross-checking Colorado Avalanche striker Nazem Kadri, the league said Tuesday.
The incident happened in the second period of Game 4. After Kadri hit a platform near the Blues’ bench, Pavel Bucnevic, another St. Louis player, made an exception to the exchange and cross-check Kadri to the ice. As Kadri tried to stand up, Peron lunged forward, sent another cross-check to Kadri from behind, and continued to pile on top of him as the referees tried to break up the fight.
Bucnevic received a two-minute penalty for a rough game, while Perón received a light penalty for a cross-check.
“We were just trying to create a spark,” Perron said when asked about his actions. “We need more fighting in our group. We need more guys, I think they just create a spark or whatever is required during the match.”
Avalanche failed to take advantage of the ensuing powerful 5-on-3 game, but Kadri scored his second half shortly afterwards, making the score 4-1.
When he found the back of the net, Peron made another run to Kadri, this time skipping it with his elbow.
“Lose your composure and we will make you pay,” the Avalanche star said after the match.
The controversy that Peron initiated marks a dangerous moment in a series that revolves around Kadri – for his brilliance on the ice and for what he has endured away from the rink.
After a clash with Jordan Binington in match 3 on Saturday, which injured the goalkeeper of the Blues and excluded him for the series, someone threw a bottle of water at Kadri during a television interview. Kadri has since said he thinks it was Binington.
After the collision and the subsequent incident with a bottle of water, Kadri was subjected to numerous threats and insensitive comments on social networks.
The NHL said it was investigating threats against Kadri on Monday, and St. Louis police used heightened security procedures at Kadri’s hotel and the blue arena before a game.
On Tuesday, Kadri’s wife, Jazi, shared on Instagram to share screenshots of racist messages he and his family have received over the past 48 hours, calling the message collection a “small example” of the comments they experienced.
“Great game tonight, I’m very proud of Nazem,” wrote Jazz. “But I wanted to shed light on what the last 48 hours looked like for us as a family.”
“This is just a small example. There is much more. This behavior is not a place in sports or anywhere. If you do not condemn racism, then you tolerate it, “she added.
Kadri himself has used his own platform to raise awareness.
“People need to be aware that this is still happening and it is painful,” he said after Monday’s match.
The NHLPA also issued a statement Tuesday condemning hateful comments against Kadri and his family.
“Recent comments to Nazem Kadri online have no place in our society. Despite the entrenched interests of fans during the highly competitive playoffs, such a racist, hate speech addressed to anyone is completely unacceptable. Nazem and his family should never be subjected to the comments they endured this week, “the association wrote.
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