Kadri scores in OT in return, Avs on brink of title
The Colorado TAMPA, FLA. —
Avalanche are on the verge of their first Stanley Cup title since 2001, thanks to Nazem Kadri’s overtime goal.
Even if the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning don’t believe it should have counted.
Kadri scored at 12:02 of the extra period to give Colorado a 3-2 victory in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final and move the Avalanche within a win of their first championship in over two decades. Game 5 is Friday night in Denver, where Colorado won the first two games of the series and are 7-2 this postseason.
Without specifically saying Tampa Bay felt Colorado had too many men on the ice just ahead of the final score, Lightning coach Jon Cooper suggested the goal should not have been allowed.
“We’re all in this together.
Players, coaches, refs, everybody. But this one is going to sting much more than others,” Cooper said.
“It’s going to be hard for me to speak . ... I’ll speak with you (Thursday). You’re going to see what I mean when you see the winning goal,” he added. “And my heart breaks for the players. Because we probably still should be playing.”
The NHL released a statement said hockey operations staff met with the four officials after the game per usual and “each of the four officials advised that they did not see a too many men on the ice situation on the play.” The league said a too many men penalty is a judgement call, and the situation is not subject to video review.
Back in the lineup after being sidelined since June 4 with a thumb injury, Kadri skated in on Andrei Vasilevskiy and slipped a shot under the goaltender’s right arm to give Colorado a 3-1 series lead.
“That was a huge win. A resilient win,” said Kadri, who had been sidelined since being injured during Game 3 of the Western Conference final against Edmonton.
“I’ve been waiting for this my whole life,” he added. “I figured it was time to join
the party.”
The Avalanche outshot the Lightning 11-3 in the extra period. Vasilevskiy stopped Logan O’Connor on a breakaway, and Colorado had a shot clang off the post and another hit the crossbar before Kadri ended it.