Kings respond to Clowe incident

The Kings, after tonight’s game, were in a state somewhere between disbelief and anger after the incident late in the third period, when San Jose’s Ryane Clowe, while on the bench, reached his stick onto the ice and deflected a puck that was being played by the Kings’ Jarret Stoll. No penalty was called on the ice. After the game, Clowe told reporters, “I have no idea what you guys are talking about. I’ll have to see the video or something. Someone show me the video.”

In an email, Kings governor Tim Leiweke wrote, “It’s a shame that a guy can cheat and get away with it in a game this important.”

Kings general manager Dean Lombardi declined comment. Here’s a sampling of thoughts from the Kings’ locker room…

DREW DOUGHTY

DOUGHTY: “He was just on the bench or whatever. Stoll had a step on his guy. He was carrying the puck away from him and (Clowe) just reached over and got his stick on it.’’

Question: It definitely wasn’t an accident, right?

DOUGHTY: “Definitely no accident. No chance that it was an accident. Unfortunately, the refs didn’t see it. It was probably hard to see, with the guys flying by, but I don’t see why it shouldn’t be a suspension. It’s like running on a football field and hitting someone during play. I don’t see why it’s any different than that.’’

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JARRET STOLL

STOLL: “Four guys can call that. You’d hope one of them can see it, and they didn’t. It’s a tough play. That’s the way it goes. You’ve got to battle through things, and that was one of the things we had to battle through, and we didn’t do it.’’

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COACH DARRYL SUTTER

SUTTER: “What do you think my thoughts are? You can’t call too many men on the ice. What do you call, too many sticks?’’

Question: Have you ever seen that before?

SUTTER: “I was surprised, because Jarret was carrying the puck, that no one else saw it. It’s not the question of whether I’ve ever seen it before. I was just surprised that it didn’t get seen.’’

Question: But have you ever seen it in your career?

SUTTER: “I’ve seen a coach lose his glasses on the ice, and reached over and broke his glasses. But I don’t think I’ve seen that one.’’

Question: Did the officials tell you anything?

SUTTER: “They didn’t see it.’’

Question: Did they tell you that?

SUTTER: “Well, obviously they didn’t. I couldn’t text them or anything. Obviously they didn’t.’’

Question: Do you think there should be some supplemental discipline?

SUTTER: “Quite honest, I don’t even know what that call is. Is it unsportsmanlike? Or too many men? It’s got to be something. Delay of game. I’m not sure what it is, to be honest with you. It’s a penalty, but I’m not sure what it is.’’