Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane suspended one game by NHL after check on Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri

Kane was suspended for one game for boarding Kadri in the Western Conference final.

The left wing will not play in the fourth game of the series on Monday, when the Avs can wrap up the series and advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

Kane wasn't given a game misconduct for his actions after he was assessed a five-minute major in the third game. Kadri didn't come back after the hit. Kadri broke his thumb on the play and will be out for the rest of the series.

Kane was banned for one game by the NHL's Department of Player Safety after a hearing on Sunday. Kane's history was cited as a factor in the league's final ruling.

"This is not a scenario in which Kadri puts himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to the hit in order to turn a legal check into an illegal one," the NHL explained. Kadri positioning himself in front of Kane to shield the puck is not a sudden or sharp movement that changes the nature of Kane's hit in a way that he cannot control. While we acknowledge Kane's argument that Kadri loses his footing as he approaches the boards, we think it's not an unavoidable occurrence that causes an unfortunate accident. The two players are traveling at high speeds and the shove is delivered at a dangerous distance from the board.

Kane talked to the media about how he saw the play after the game.

I was arriving on the check. Kane knew he liked to reverse hit. I just tried to get up on him. He hurt his hand when he went into the board. That wasn't nice.

The team should know more about Kadri's status in the next few days, according to Bednar. After Saturday's win, Bednar would only allow that Kane put Kadri in headfirst from behind. I will leave it that way. On Sunday, Bednar said it was a dangerous hit and he didn't like it.

Bednar thinks Colorado will fill Kadri's large void. Kadri has six goals and 14 points in 13 playoff games to date and has played a prominent role in this series so far as part of the second line.

Kane won't be with the team for the elimination game. The team's top-line winger scored the first goal of the Western Conference Final and has 13 goals and 17 points in 15 playoff games.