Colorado Avalanche's Nazem Kadri sticks up for injured teammate, pummels New York Rangers' Ryan Lindgren

One of the reasons there's fighting in hockey is to send a message to someone who hits a teammate.

Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri did that and more to New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren.

Lindgren had injured Joonas Donskoi with a big hit along the boards as the Avalanche forward brought the puck into the zone during the first period.

Kadri, who was leading the Avalanche with 60 penalty minutes heading into the game, got Lindgren's attention by cross-checking him in the back.

Though Lindgren was able to drop his gloves, he wasn't able to get in a punch while Kadri landed multiple punches that bloodied the defenseman.

Kadri was given an instigator penalty, plus five for fighting and a misconduct for 17 total penalty minutes.

Lindgren was ruled out of the game with an upper-body injury, leaving the Rangers to play the rest of their 5-3 win with five defensemen.

Donskoi didn't return to the game, either.

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar had no update after the game.

"The news isn't good, obviously, if he didn't come out for rest of the game," he said.

On Kadri's fight, he told reporters, "I watched the replay (of the hit on Donskoi). Shoulder right into his jaw and in his cheek and no call, so we have to take care of it ourselves. So that's what we did."

The NHL held a hearing with Lindgren on Wednesday but decided against supplemental discipline.

"While there was significant head contact on this play, Lindgren took a proper angle of approach, did not extend outward or upward and hit through Donskoi’s core," the league's Department of Player Safety said.