Mattias Janmark’s status unclear for Golden Knights after injury
DENVER — Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer didn’t have an update Monday morning on left wing Mattias Janmark, who was injured in Game 1 of the second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.
Janmark was hit high in the corner of the offensive zone by Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves with 11:37 left in the second period and didn’t appear to see it coming.
Janmark was face down on the ice for several seconds and needed to be helped to the bench. He did not return to the game.
“The plan was he would go back to the hotel and they would evaluate him this morning,” DeBoer said. “I haven’t gotten any reports on that yet.”
Janmark is the Knights’ leading scorer in the playoffs with six points in eight games. He recorded a hat trick in Game 7 of their first-round series against the Minnesota Wild on Friday to help the team advance.
The Knights were upset with the hit that took Janmark out of the game. Graves was given a minor penalty for interference. Captain Mark Stone said it was a blindside hit that the NHL is trying to remove from the game. DeBoer called it a “dirty hit.”
The NHL did not announce any additional discipline for Graves on Monday.
The play led to tempers flaring the rest of the way. Knights right wing Ryan Reaves received a match penalty for going after Graves following a whistle in the third period.
The sequence led to four other players — two on each side — being assessed 10-minute misconducts. The Avalanche got a nine-minute power play, and defenseman Cale Makar scored.
Reaves was suspended for two games Monday.
“Graves is down and in a vulnerable position, and (Reaves) just stays on top of him,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “I didn’t like the play.”
Two-day break
The Knights and Avalanche won’t play again until Wednesday because the Denver Nuggets are hosting an NBA playoff game Tuesday at Ball Arena.
That’s just fine with the Knights. They had a quick turnaround traveling to Denver after their Game 7 victory over the Minnesota Wild.
“We need the extra day,” said DeBoer, who added that fatigue might have played a role in the team’s Game 1 performance. “I think anytime you’re getting past the first round of the playoffs, any extra day of rest you can get, especially if you played a long series, is advantageous.”
Kadri suspension upheld
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld Avalanche center Nazem Kadri’s eight-game suspension Monday for a check to the head against St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk.
Kadri hasn’t played since Game 2 of Colorado’s first-round series when the hit occurred. If the suspension stands, he won’t be eligible to play until a possible Game 7 between the Avalanche and Knights.
Kadri can appeal his suspension again to a neutral arbitrator. The 30-year-old had 32 points in 56 games this season.
Krebs, Korczak named All-Stars
Knights prospects Peyton Krebs and Kaedan Korczak were named Western Hockey League All-Stars in their divisions Monday.
Krebs, a 2019 first-round pick, led the WHL in assists (30) and points (43). The forward played for the Winnipeg Ice in the East Division.
Korczak, a 2019 second-round pick, had eight points in 15 games. The defenseman played for the Kelowna Rockets in the B.C. Division.
Primeau signs
Knights 2019 fifth-round pick Mason Primeau signed a three-year, entry-level contract Monday.
The 19-year-old forward had three assists in 10 games with the Silver Knights this season.
Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.