This day in Avalanche history: Nazem Kadri silences Blues fans with hat trick

It's been three years since Nazem Kadri's iconic hat trick against the St. Louis Blues in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals, one of the top performances in Avalanche history

BY TRENT FINNEGAN

May 23, 2025, 1:19 PM

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Nazem Kadri was the most hated man in the city of St. Louis on this day three years ago.

After a collision with Blues goalie Jordan Binnington in Game 3 of the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals, a game that the Avalanche won 5-2, Kadri received a lot of anti-Muslim hate comments on social media, something that prompted law enforcement to be called in to add an extra layer of security around Kadri and the Avalanche. The hit injured Binnington and put him on the sidelines for the remainder of the series, but the aftermath went too far.

Kadri, who is Muslim and Lebanese, was likely the first player to bring the Stanley Cup inside a mosque after the Avalanche completed a dominant run in 2022.

After the Game 3 debacle, every hockey fan in the city of Saint Louis had their eyes on Kadri for a pivotal Game 4. While he didn’t face any more racist comments from the St. Louis faithful, he was showered with a smattering of boos.

Until he shut them up.

The center rattled off two goals in the second period to push the score to 4-1 in favor of the Avalanche. Two late penalties on Colorado in the period gave the Blues two separate power play opportunities, which they capitalized on, to cut the deficit to one.

Kadri responded again halfway into the third period, putting the game out of reach and silencing the Blues crowd once and for all.

Goodbye Nazem Kadri. Avalanche fans will never forget the way you took complete ownership of the St. Louis Blues and its entire fanbase. The hat trick will live on forever. pic.twitter.com/2sl03Wkkj8

— Avalanche Forever (@citchmook) August 10, 2022

Kadri’s legendary performance put the Avalanche up 3-1 in the series, essentially closing the door on a series that Colorado ended up winning in six games thanks to a buzzer-beater from Darren Helm.

After the game, Kadri cleared the air with his relationship with the St. Louis fans.

“I know that they’re booing me and what-not, but that’s what being a fan is. 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’ve 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. But for those that wasted their time sending messages like that, I feel sorry for them.”

The Avalanche have had so many iconic moments throughout the years with their three runs to the Stanley Cup. This moment by Kadri might not be the best, but it’s up towards the top, and is arguably one of the most important performances in helping Colorado reach the mountaintop that season.