Doughty on guard

The Kings’ training staff probably has its hands full trying to keep track of a mischievous 20-year-old Drew Doughty, but so far, so good. Doughty has been wearing a mouth guard since he suffered a concussion last month. Doughty has been a reluctant adapter to the mouth guard in the past, so now, at the start of every period, Doughty said assistant trainer Myles Hirayama checks his locker, to make sure Doughty hasn’t, you know, accidentally left it behind or something…

Studies have shown that the mouth guards help protect against concussions, and Doughty was able to skate away mostly unscathed Thursday night after a scary-looking hit from Dallas’ Adam Burish. Doughty’s head hit the glass and his helmet popped off (and Burish got a five-minute major and a game misconduct), but after treatment for a small cut, Doughty was right back on the ice for the ensuing power play.

“I just got a scratch on my face, but besides that, I’m fine,” Doughty said after practice Friday. “It was an unfortunate play, but I’m fine. I felt pretty good right after the hit. I stayed down there, but right after I felt fine. I kind of knew right away that it was nothing serious.”

As for that mouth guard, Doughty said, “The team is making sure, at all times, that I’ve got that in. It’s a good thing to have it in, for sure.”