Welcome back, Nazem Kadri!
After missing the first few games of the Stanley Cup Final due to an injury, Kadri made his triumphant return to the Colorado Avalanche lineup on Wednesday and scored the most important goal of his hockey career. In overtime of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning, Kadri scored quite the chaotic goal to win the game 3-2 for the visitors and officially put the back-to-back champions on the brink.
With eight minutes left in the overtime period, Kadri threw a deadly shot on net at Andrei Vasilevskiy, who seemed to have saved the puck at first glance. However, Kadri and the Avalanche started celebrating on the ice for the game-winner, as the puck actually went through Vasilevskiy and got stuck in the top of the net.
It’s undoubtably a goal, and quite the chaotic one at that.
The Avs win Game 4 in OT to take a 3-1 series lead! #StanleyCupFinal pic.twitter.com/8m5C1LhS84
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) June 23, 2022
What a moment for Kadri, and what a goal too! Despite the initial confusion, the Avalanche now lead the Lightning in the series 3-1 with Game 5 in Colorado on Friday night to possibly close it out against the back-to-back champions.
That has to feel good for Kadri, who has dealt with quite a lot these playoffs, from being the subject of a childish water bottle toss from Jordan Binnington to dealing with racist fans in the second round of the playoffs. And now, it seems as if Kadri has gotten the last laugh here!
