It’s still a little difficult to piece together exactly what happened with the hit by Erik Cole on Drew Doughty in the first period, the hit that forced Doughty from the game. Terry Murray was uncharacteristically tight-lipped about the play after the game, which leads me to believe that he was biting his tongue and didn’t want to comment on the play.
Of the injury, Murray said only, “It was the Cole hit, in the neutral zone. Doughty carried the puck out of our zone, and the puck had long gone. He didn’t have it for a long way when the hit happened.”
As for Doughty’s short-term status, Murray said, “We’re not going to take him (to Phoenix). He might join us on the trip.”
In reference to Doughty, Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi told the Daily News’ J.P. Hoornstra, “When you’ve been around a little bit, you can tell if a guy’s got his bell rung. … It didn’t look too bad. He was walking around, he was talking OK – certainly a positive.”
murray did look more than a little p.o.’ed in the press conference….
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
October 21st, 2010 at 12:20 am
@rontheking, Yeah, Murray had that … “if I told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times not to ask such questions” kind of look.
[Reply]
grit Reply:
October 21st, 2010 at 3:35 am
@rontheking, he should be p.o.ed at himself for not teaching his team how to stand up for one another.he got his “bell rung” and you did nothing.shame on all of you!
[Reply]
rontheking Reply:
October 21st, 2010 at 4:32 pm
@grit,
i agree. i haven’t looked to see if and when the kings play the canes again…but next time i really really hope to see some serious payback to cole.
that’s where you miss a guy like ian laperriere. he’d be skating after the guy going ‘c’mon cole…you know you’re going to have to take a beating sooner or later…so let’s get it on.’
[Reply]
If it is a head injury (Bell rung, Mild Concussion, or more serious concussion) Let’s just hope he is symptom free in the morning… I would guess it’s all based on how he’s feeling… Pray for no headaches!
[Reply]
Real 7 Reply:
October 21st, 2010 at 12:17 am
@Kings win, Ducks lose,
“upper body” I was afraid of a shoulder injury, something of that sort – the head is a whole different matter – let’s hope it’s not a concussion,
maybe just a neck sprain
[Reply]
Rest up Dewey and hopefully we see u back on the ice this road trip! Good job gettin the 2pts boys!
[Reply]
Well that seems like good news maybe doughty can play in colorado this weekend. But i loved tonight how kings battled even after going down in the game team has alot of fight like last season i bet will be even more so this season
[Reply]
Nerve wracking.. I hope its just a big scare. Hearing about doughty s injury on NHL network just makes it even worse haha. I think hes fine, he got hit late and hard.. and its going to get reviewed, hopefully he can walk away from it.
[Reply]
I was just watching the NHL network and they feel that the league will review the hit since it was similar to the Doan hit on Sexton.
[Reply]
Hit wasn’t too violent but it was very late. DD was not prepared for it. Needless hit is what makes it frustrating.
[Reply]
New thought…
According to scuderi..Head injury..
Doughty, a little shaken up after that hit..Turned into “take the night off tomorrow night”, “come back strong” move hopefully.
[Reply]
DougS Reply:
October 21st, 2010 at 12:00 am
@Michael_DD8,
If it’s a head injury, then keeping him out of tomorrow’s game is probably a sensible precaution. It’s now so much how you feel right afterward that’s important, it’s how you feel the next day and later.
The Kings have enough depth so that they can manage without Doughty for a short period of time. Better to be safe than sorry with such a valuable asset.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
October 21st, 2010 at 12:23 am
@DougS, The real reason is he’ll likely go in for a CAT scan of his head tomorrow as a precaution. That is probably the extent of it I bet. I’m betting DD will be back for the Av game.
The question I’m wondering is if Greene comes back early, or does Harold get a start?
[Reply]
TradedForAPick Reply:
October 21st, 2010 at 7:16 am
@KC23,
Gotta figure if Greene isn’t fully ready the Kings go with Harrold at least for a game or two. Put him with Scuds and that way he should be covered on the defensive side of things.
From the sounds of this, it seems like the team trainers are wanting to protect the golden boy. Probably a headache or maybe a minor concussion they don’t want to press until they’re sure.
[Reply]
DougS Reply:
October 21st, 2010 at 12:01 am
@kingsxstevenxkings,
Exactly. That’s how it looks to me, too.
[Reply]
kingkrazy Reply:
October 21st, 2010 at 12:18 am
@kingsxstevenxkings,
Could also just be a neck strain… Hopefully.
[Reply]
I’ve watched over 2(billion) times and he looks like he takes a shoulder to the face/head just after turning around not realizing he’s going to take his face to a shoulder – head up all the way – his hands are “facing” Cole for an instant then Blam and he goes out of the picture and then back in falling down and then play continues.
Fox mentions that Doughty had no support for his rush along with other rushes with no support by the Kings but doesn’t make mention of any injury.
Doughty stays on the ice and actually breaks up a (weak) play in front of the Kings net and breaks it out to a forward and you can see him holding his stick in his left hand and possibly shaking his right skating to the bench.
Is it a dirty play? I’ll let those with better knowledge determine that.
Was it necessary to check Doughty that way? I didn’t like it.
[Reply]
Its early in the season, Matt Greene is coming back soon, and the Kings defense looks solid (scary enough) even without Doughty. Obviously would love to have Doughty in every game, but I’d rather sit him out even if its 5-10 games than have his career hampered.
[Reply]
I think the big issue will be the angle Cole used, and the shoulder making contact with the head. That’s the criteria, right Rich? He also skated right at Doughty after he had released the puck. Suspension!
[Reply]
kings4queens Reply:
October 21st, 2010 at 12:46 am
@kingkrazy,
Building on what you are saying, I think that TM and DL foresaw this type of thing happening, which is why I think they have been pretty adamant about having an enforcer, like Westy or at a minimum, Clifford, on the team as protection.
Kopi and Drew are legitimately rising superstars and are therefore now targets. I’m not at all a conspiracy theorist, but the fact that both of them have been injured in the first week and a half of play should be a heads up to the team that they better have their best player’s backs.
[Reply]
Rich,
This will change the D for the trip and if it is minor it is good that we can be patient with DD. Has the club said if they will activate Green or suit up Harold in Phoenix? I was not able to see the play do you know if it looks like a play the league will review?
Thanks Rich for all you do.
[Reply]
DD might be having some extra discussions with his partner after that hit, given WM’s recent history of having his bell rung. Hopefully not too serious.
After my review of the play, it literally fits all of the criteria of the new rule as Jim Fox mentioned, just like Doan’s hit. DD passed the puck to Ritchie before the red line and skated to the blue line before getting hit with what looks like a shoulder to the noggin.
- Angle was NOT north/South, rather East/West.
- Hit was to the head area.
- Hit was VERY Late.
Doan got 3 games. Let’s see if the “Wheel of Campbell” for discipline has been rebuilt to be consistent. I think TM was tight-lipped for a few reasons. THeyre probably wasn’t a complete diagnosis yet for him to comment on AND he was probably pissed as hell and didn’t want to use the wrong words publicly before a hearing/possible ruling could be made.
It really did look identical to Doan’s hit. Either Cole gets 3 games or Doan got screwed. Just my opinion mind you.
[Reply]
TradedForAPick Reply:
October 21st, 2010 at 7:20 am
@Cynic,
I think Doan’s play was certainly potentially dangerous, but he didn’t make full contact. Cole definitely did. You gotta figure if the league sent Doan a message for doing a dangerous play, Cole will certainly get suspended for a full hit that was just as late.
[Reply]
Greener can’t get back soon enough.
This trip is going to be much tougher than what people think.
The season has now just begun.
[Reply]
wow, just watched the replay and it’s barely in the picture it’s so far out of the play.
That’s awful. Cole should be ashamed of himself, especially considering his history with stupid hits. What a prick, I hope someone like Orpik drills him again.
[Reply]
typicaljs Reply:
October 21st, 2010 at 12:40 am
@typicaljs,
to make my statement not look THAT bad, a guy that has that happen to him and makes a hit like that shouldn’t be allowed to play professional hockey anymore.
[Reply]
grit Reply:
October 21st, 2010 at 3:15 am
@typicaljs, Whats awful is the Kings did nothing to Cole.Every Kings player should me ashamed that THEY allowed this to happen.It will continue if the Kings let teams make dirty or clean hits on each other.Murray stop hoping for a fine or suspension,get your team to police its self.Everyone on the Kings should be accountable to each other.Great teams are.
[Reply]
NHL on the Fly did a good job of spotlighting the hit that injured DD. With the puck nowhere near him, I hope a suspension is in order. We’ll see.
[Reply]
One thing to note about Doughnut not going on the road trip is that if you have a concussion, they do not want you to fly because of the altitude and the pressure you sometimes get in a plane. More than anything I believe Murray is just being cautious and if all checks out good after seeing the doctors tomorrow, then we can hope to see Doughnut in the line-up on Saturday. Just a thought.
[Reply]
NHL.com has got a video up of the hit, but it barely shows it, if anyone wanted to see it. http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=35&id=79379
[Reply]