Avs' Kadri ejected for hit to the head of Blues' Faulk

Nazem Kadri might've once again put himself in hot water with the NHL Department of Player Safety.

The Colorado Avalanche forward received a five-minute major and a match penalty for an illegal hit to the head of St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk during Game 2 on Wednesday.

Nazem Kadri receives a match penalty for an illegal check to the head of Justin Faulk. pic.twitter.com/RVZkVsqNMz

- Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 20, 2021

Here's another look:

Another look at the hit by Nazem Kadri: pic.twitter.com/CEwpXkjG2x

- Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 20, 2021

Faulk didn't return to the game.

"It's a very dangerous hit. It's gotta be a suspension," Blues captain Ryan O'Reilly said postgame, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "It's awful to see."

Blues forward Brayden Schenn also took issue with the hit.

"Kadri, guy can't control himself," Schenn said postgame, per NHL.com's Lou Korac. "In the playoffs, he's a repeat offender. Bad hits, greasy hits, and he got a guy in a vulnerable position and picks nothing but the head."

Kadri has been suspended five times in his career - twice during the postseason.

In Round 1 of the 2018 playoffs as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, he received a three-game ban for his hit on Boston Bruins forward Tommy Wingels. During the 2019 postseason against Boston, he cross-checked Jake DeBrusk in the face during Game 2 and was suspended for the remainder of the series.

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