There was another nervous Drew Doughty moment tonight, early in the third period, when Doughty was bumped into the bench area by Columbus’ RJ Umberger, then went nose-first into the “turnbuckle” padding at the end of the bench. Doughty fell and was flat on his stomach for a few moments, and briefly went to the locker room but returned for his regular complement of minutes in the third period. After the game, Doughty said there were no issues.
DOUGHTY: “I’m fine. Obviously I was back out there again, so I’m fine. I just got it right on the nose again. There was a little bit of blood, but nothing drastic. I didn’t see the turnbuckle there. I kind of had my head down, making the play, and I ran right into it. But I’m fine, and he obviously didn’t mean to do it. … I missed a couple shifts, just to come in here [the locker room] and make sure i was symptom-free, but everything was fine.”
Just got done watching the first period. The team looked more agrresive on offense, going to the net more with the defense pinching down low on several plays. I thought they looked pretty good but Bernier looked a little shaky. Not real happy with what Rich was saying about us starting next season in Europe. I can barely afford to see the Kings on the road in Anaheim let alone Europe.
[Reply]
Kayla Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
@DesertKing, Agreed. They’re making me broke.
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 9:53 pm
@DesertKing, Agreed, It always seems to be a setback for teams that start the season in Europe.
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 7:31 am
@DesertKing, Bet the trip ends up costing them four points due to travel, distraction & fatigue
[Reply]
Dustin Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 9:28 am
@DesertKing, you would seriously fly to Europe to see a few games??? Damn that is dedication! Respect
[Reply]
Stuff some more cotton balls in it and get back out there.
[Reply]
KFII Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
@Dominick, You are cracking me up.
[Reply]
Really though that looked like it could of been bad. Good to know he shook it off. Now keep your head up Dewy!
[Reply]
Those turnbuckles are dangerous!
[Reply]
Mark Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 8:24 am
@408kingsfan,
Ohhhhh yeah brother…..and WHOOOOO!!!
[Reply]
Here is a thought, why not encase the whole rink with plexiglass so it is all uniform. There for no “danger spots” for the players
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
@Virgil,
How would the players crawl over the boards on a line change?
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 9:56 pm
@Dominick, U-Shaped Hamster tubes, or chutes & ladders? LOL
[Reply]
Bkrs-Bud Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 1:17 am
@luc20rules, Teleport beam me in T.M.
DesertKing Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 9:50 pm
@Virgil,
How about NASCAR impact absorbing walls?
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
@Virgil, Why don’t they just have the glass turn into the bench area so that the player gets deflected towards the ice, instead of simply stopping immediately into the glass. Also, why can’t they have the glass in between the benches be back from the ice a couple of feet. I know you need to divide the benches, but in arenas where there is 4 feet or so in between them, do you really need the glass right next to the playing surface? Hopefully it won’t take a superstar player who gets seriously injured to get the NHL to change somethings, ala Dale Earnhardt with nascar.
[Reply]
brian spain Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
@CB14, Its been that way for 80 years, if you play with your head up you won’t get nailed. The Montreal player had his head down also. Same in getting hammered in the center of the ice. head =kaboooom
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 11:34 pm
@brian spain, I disagree with your head up point. Just because you keep you head up doesn’t mean your not going to get hit into the turnbuckle. There are many times that a player shoots the puck in and gets checked into the boards while trying to squeeze by the defenseman. Which is exaztly how Pacoretti got nailed by Chara. He tried to squeeze by Chara, and would have done so, but Chara interfered with him and pushed him into the boards, and his head into the turnbuckle.
Regarding your point that it’s been that way for 80 years. Players didn’t wear helmets 80 years ago, and goalies didn’t wear masks either, do you think those changes were unnecessary? Sometimes change is good. Any change that doesn’t affect the play on the ice, but increases player safety, is a good change. Don’t you think Pacoretti would like to have seen rounded glass instead of the turnbuckle that stopped him immediately? I think he, his concussed head, and the fractured vertebra in his neck would agree.
Mark Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 8:26 am
@brian spain,
Ryan Smyth had his head up and look what happened to him with Jack Johnson.
Kings win!!!!!! sorry Iam on tape delay!!!!!!
[Reply]
I didn’t think the 3rd period was as bad as mentioned by some. Brown made a beautiful pass on one rush, Simmonds almost chipped one in and Penner was everywhere with some good attempts. As usual the PK was solid and while the PP was only 1-5, it did seem to have more movement in 4 of the PPs. There also seems to be some good chemistry developing between Penner, Kopi and JW.
[Reply]
brian spain Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
@DesertKing, 20% on the power play, I would take that everyday of the week. every day
[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 1:18 am
@DesertKing, I agree. Colombus was taking major chances. We had several odd man rushes because of it. You should expect to see this scenario. Kings held the fort.
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 7:44 am
@DesertKing, They outshot us 14-3, does that tell us anything?
Several grade A saves were needed on top of a lot of luck in several instances. To close when playing against a team with a two player offense. But Upshall always turns out for Kings games
[Reply]
every rink should have the same rink like the old dasher boards that had springs so they would sway. its dumb that all rinks in the nhl are not the same company
[Reply]
i swear every time he gets hit or dinged up a bit it looks like he is embellishing. must be the way i see the game. Yes i saw the play (several times with dvr) And kopitar – hey whatta ya knowyou get involved, get your head up and a couple a tip ins go in. hope they continue on… c’mon dallas yo got anything?
[Reply]
Perhaps those “turnbuckle” ends should not be vertical. Perhaps they should be at an angle so if someone’s head hits it, it wouldn’t be so heinous.
[Reply]
It’s like “pick on Doughty” week. Lol
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 1:54 am
@Ryan, He is asking for it the way he’s been playing.
[Reply]
Why not paint those turnbuckles in red so they can see it is dangerous.
[Reply]
Hi Rich, please pass this along as a suggestion for what to do about the turnbuckle…the thing they keep hitting their heads on.
They should bring the “corner” back further, and make the corners “rounded” …that way, if their head hits it, it will slide off of it, or “around” it (for the most part) as opposed hitting a corner and snapping back. Please pass this on
Thank you!
[Reply]
I don’t know why nobody at the NHL hasn’t thought of this yet. Here’s the perfect solution for this “turnbuckle” area next to the benches. Instead of the glass being at a right 90 degree angle, why not make it a 45 degree angle? So you’d have straight glass along the boards, then a section of glass set 45 degrees back from the ice till it reaches the back of the bench, then the bench area. You could mount 2 sections of glass with a hinge on the back that isn’t exposed to the ice. Maybe I’ll patent the design and sell it to the NHL?
[Reply]