The Colorado Avalanche are up 3-0 on the Edmonton Oilers and are poised to reach the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. Unfortunately, the Avalanche might be without center Nazem Kadri for that championship series, assuming they finish off the Oilers.

Kadri left Saturday's Game 3 against the Oilers after taking a hit from behind by Evander Kane. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said after the game that Kadri would be out for the series, “if not longer,” according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. 

The hit came just over a minute into Colorado's 4-2 win. Kane was given a five-minute major for his actions, which featured him cross-checking Kadri from behind into the boards. Bednar was not happy about the play:

“The hit is the most dangerous play in hockey,” Bednar said. “It puts him in headfirst from behind, 8 feet off the boards. I'll leave it at that.”

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Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said the hit is the kind that “gives you chills down your spine” when you see it. Landeskog also called the hit “dangerous” and believes the NHL should review it for potential discipline.

Kane tried to explain himself and referred to the hit as “unfortunate” after it happened:

“I was just coming around on the backcheck. Puck went wide, kind of dribbled into the corner. I know he likes to reverse it,” Kane said. “I was just trying get a bump on him. That's all I did. Unfortunately, he went into the boards awkwardly and hurt his hands. But that was unfortunate.”

While the Avalanche are loaded and in position to reach the Stanley Cup Final, losing Kadri for that series would be a tough blow. He has 14 points so far in the playoffs, including six goals. If he's indeed done for the postseason, Colorado will need a “by committee” approach to replace his contributions.