Matt Greene’s mysterious absence

Matt Greene did not return to last night’s game after the end of the first period, and after he appeared to be a bit wobbly on the ice after a collision with Detroit’s Niklas Kronwall. After the game, in the locker room, Greene said he was fine, and Terry Murray also said Greene was fine. What happened? Today, Murray said it was the Detroit team doctor who examined Greene and recommended that he not return to the game. Murray said Greene is OK today and isn’t going to miss any time. Murray talked about the odd-seeming series of events, and also gave an update on Rob Scuderi, who left last night’s game in the third period after having his mouth severely bloodied by a high stick…

Question: Did you get any more clarity on the Matt Greene situation?

MURRAY: “Their team doctor felt concerned. He, basically, was the one who made the call and said (Greene) should be pulled out. Kinger [Kings trainer Chris Kingsley] is talking to him, and obviously Kinger is consider also, just with the way (Greene) finished that shift. He was kind of hanging onto the crossbar for a little while, to get himself stabilized again and come back to the bench. It was out of precaution only. He’s fine, he’s good. I got an update here today, and everything is good. He’s ready to go and will be in the lineup against St. Louis, and on the ice tomorrow for practice.”

Question: Is that the standard procedure on the road, to follow the advice of the home-team doctor?

MURRAY: “When you’re in the regular season, the visiting teams are covered by the home-team doctor. So you rely on, and trust, their judgment. It was on the side of caution. So we listened, and he came out OK on the other side and we won the game. He’s good to go.”

Question: And Scuderi is OK today?

MURRAY: “Scuds is good. He was with Kinger this morning. They met here in the lobby and they went to the St. Louis team dentist and had some observation and, I think, some X-rays taken, just to make sure everything was OK on that part of it. The update I have is, he’s clear. No issues, no problems, other than the cut itself. It was a pretty severe cut, 20-plus stitches, but that will heal and he will get through it.”