Maple Leafs' Nazem Kadri suspended 3 games for boarding Wingels

The NHL's department of player safety has suspended Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri for three games for boarding the Bruins' Tommy Wingels during Boston's 5-1 win in Game 1 of the first-round series Thursday at TD Garden.

Wingels was injured on the play at 8:14 of the third period and did not return. He did not practice with the team on Friday and is listed as questionable for Game 2 on Saturday.

Kadri is considered a repeat offender and this is the fourth time in his career he's been suspended.

The league ruled that Kadri had time to avoid the hit, didn't choose to do so and, in fact, accelerated and left his feet.



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The league made the right call and this is a huge loss for the Maple Leafs. Wingels was in a vulnerable position when Kadri launched at the Bruins forward. The Maple Leafs lose one of their top centers and now the matchups will become more of a challenge for Toronto coach Mike Babcock.

It also means that the top-line pairing of Auston Matthews and William Nylander must rise to the occasion, especially with the team trailing by one game in the series.

During Friday's practice, Babcock had Zach Hyman in the middle of Patrick Marleau and Mitch Marner. Leo Komarov was on the left side with Matthews and Nylander. Andreas Johnsson was on the left side on the fourth line.

"What we tried to do is give ourselves good balance," Babcock said after practice. "We thought Hyman played real well last night, we thought Hyman could help those two guys be a real good line. Leo (Komarov) has played in that spot. It looks to me like they're matching Bergeron against them so it gives him a good job and a net-front presence. The other groups are the same and (Johnsson) has played in this spot with (Tomas Plekanec) before."