Kadri puts mark on Game 4 for Avalanche

ST. LOUIS --Nazem Kadri said he wanted to put his mark on Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round, and that's exactly what he did by scoring a hat trick for the Colorado Avalanche in a 6-3 win against the St. Louis Blues.

"I tried to do that as best as possible," Kadri said. "Sometimes you've got to be patient and you've got to wait. I was able to strike early in the second period and was able to get the mojo going, in terms of individually and as a team, so it felt amazing.
"Especially to do it on the road, it was pure."
Kadri had been the target of taunts and death threats following Colorado's 5-2 win in Game 3 on Saturday, when Blues goalie Jordan Binnington sustained a lower-body injury at 6:45 of the first period after being knocked over by teammate Calle Rosen and Kadri, who was skating hard for a rebound.
No penalty was assessed on the play, but the Blues announced on Sunday that Binnington would be out for the rest of the series.
"I guess I needed some fuel. ... I was pretty upset the last couple of days, but it is what it is," Kadri said. "We got the win and that's what we wanted."
RELATED: [Complete Avalanche vs. Blues series coverage]
The animosity carried over into Game 4, with Kadri being confronted by Blues forward Brayden Schenn in the opening minute of the game.
Then, at 5:30 of the second period, after Blues forward David Perron attempted to hit him in the neutral zone away from the puck, he was checked into the boards by Pavel Buchnevich. As he was attempting to get up, Perron cross-checked him back to the ice before jumping on top.
Buchnevich (roughing) and Perron (cross-checking) were each assessed a minor penalty on the play.
"I figured someone was going to have something to say, but that's just stupid penalties that we cashed in on and it hurt them," Kadri said. "If you lose your cool, we'll make you pay."
Prior to the 5-on-3 power play, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar appeared to have a conversation with Kadri, who kept his composure and scored his second goal of the game on a one-timer from the right circle seven seconds after the two-man advantage expired to make it 4-1.
"I'm proud of him," Bednar said. "Our talk today and coming into tonight's game was to stay focused. We're here to win a hockey game, and I felt the guys were ready. The one guy that I was kind of concerned about was 'Naz,' but I thought he was amazing.
"Obviously, a tremendous game from him. A focus, a discipline. I'm proud of the way he's handled the last 48 hours, and to be able to come out and perform like that in the pressure situation is amazing."

St. Louis fans in attendance weren't pleased, especially when Kadri thwarted a comeback attempt by completing his hat trick to make it 5-3 at 9:38 of the third period.
"I like when fans are engaged in the game, and if you want to boo, by all means, that doesn't bother me," Kadri said. "I'm just going to continue to take care of business. As a home team and a home player, you want the fans on your side and heckling the other team, as long as it's within the guidelines. I got no issues with that, and I know what was said isn't a reflection on every single fan in St. Louis. I understand that and I want to make that clear."
Now, with the best-of-7 series shifting home to Colorado for Game 5 on Wednesday, Kadri will try to sustain his level of play and help the Avalanche advance to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2002.
"It's not about ego, it's not about settling scores, as tough as that would have been for him," Bednar said. "It's about winning. You have to make sacrifices, and it's no different than any other situation where a guy gets a lick on you. I think that's what makes the biggest statement. You go out, suck it up and do what you got to do to help everyone else in the room get what they want ... which is a win.
"And no one wants it more than Naz."