Nazem Kadri's Electric Game 2 Draws Rave Reviews as Avalanche Down Oilers

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIJune 3, 2022

DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 31: Nazem Kadri #91 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in Game One of the Western Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on May 31, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

The Colorado Avalanche have taken a 2-0 Western Conference Finals series lead over the Edmonton Oilers after Nadem Kadri powered the Avs to a 4-0 home win on Thursday.

A scoreless second-period tie turned into a 3-0 Avalanche lead in 2:04 thanks largely to Kadri, who had three primary assists and now has six goals and eight helpers in 12 playoff games.

Kadri initially received credit for the first goal, but that one eventually went to Artturi Lehkonen, who deflected it in.

Colorado Avalanche @Avalanche
Okay okay okay we’re catching up with ONE GOAL. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoAvsGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoAvsGo</a> <a href="https://t.co/CTdgZKTsoT">pic.twitter.com/CTdgZKTsoT</a>

Josh Manson and Mikko Rantanen scored the second and third goals, respectively.

Colorado Avalanche @Avalanche
TWO GOAL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoAvsGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoAvsGo</a> <a href="https://t.co/Jqw2BVLtjn">pic.twitter.com/Jqw2BVLtjn</a>

Colorado Avalanche @Avalanche
Burgundy and Blue Goal!!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoAvsGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoAvsGo</a> <a href="https://t.co/30hkFGQTde">pic.twitter.com/30hkFGQTde</a>

Kadri did excellent work on the third by feeding Rantanen on a two-on-one for the insurance goal, which occurred six minutes into the second period.

That was more than enough for the Avalanche, who shut down the Oilers thanks in part to goaltender Pavel Francouz's 24 saves. Nathan MacKinnon also added a late power-play goal for the 4-0 win.

Kadri was this game's superstar, though, and Twitter gave him due credit for his performance.

Brandon Krisztal @BKDenverSports
It feels like Kadri is angling for 1st Star of the night…he’s got my vote so far!<a href="https://twitter.com/KOAColorado?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KOAColorado</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoAvsGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoAvsGo</a>

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StatsCentre @StatsCentre
Fastest 3 assists by a player in a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a> Playoff game:<br>1:13- BOS's Ray Bourque (May 6, 1988 vs NJD)<br>1:55- VAN's Henrik Sedin (May 22, 2011 vs SJS)<br>2:00- STL's Chris Pronger (April 27, 1998 vs LAK)<br>2:04- <a href="https://twitter.com/Avalanche?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Avalanche</a> forward Nazem Kadri (Tonight in the 2nd period against EDM) <a href="https://t.co/ODLCIgGG2h">pic.twitter.com/ODLCIgGG2h</a>

NHL Public Relations @PR_NHL
Talk about an <a href="https://twitter.com/Avalanche?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Avalanche</a> of goals. 🏔️<a href="https://twitter.com/43_Kadri?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@43_Kadri</a> had three assists in the middle frame to match the franchise record for most in a playoff period (also Risto Siltanen in Game 5 of 1987 DSF & Joe Sakic in Game 2 of 1996 SCF). <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLStats?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NHLStats</a>: <a href="https://t.co/eKwm5QTTFV">https://t.co/eKwm5QTTFV</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/bH7Na0zvEn">pic.twitter.com/bH7Na0zvEn</a>

Peter Baugh @Peter_Baugh
Nazem Kadri is scoring at 19,680-point pace the last 15 seconds.

Nasher @TheNasher61
KADRI IS UNREAL. MIKE SMITH IS NOT.

Matt Schubert @MattDSchubert
Nazem Kadri gets a street named after him at the end of this playoff run, right?

Chris Johnston @reporterchris
Of all the players shown the door by the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/leafs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#leafs</a> in recent years, Nazem Kadri truly is the one who got away.

Luca Celebre @LucaCelebre21
.<a href="https://twitter.com/43_Kadri?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@43_Kadri</a> appreciation tweet because he’s absoltuely incredible. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoAvsGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoAvsGo</a>

Arielle Orsuto @ArielleOrsuto
A three point night already for Nazem Kadri. He's been alright this postseason.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/goavsgo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#goavsgo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9sports?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9sports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/standwithnaz?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#standwithnaz</a>

Conor McCormick-Cavanagh @ConorMichael28
Has anyone checked the oil well map in Alberta recently? Because I’m pretty sure Nazem Kadri owns Edmonton.

Kadri, who scored a goal during the Avalanche's 8-6 Game 1 win, will now look to help lead Colorado to a Game 3 win when the Avs visit Edmonton on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.