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LA Kings coach D.J. Smith escapes injury after glass panel breaks
TL;DR
LA Kings interim coach D.J. Smith narrowly escaped injury when a glass panel shattered behind the bench during Game 2 against the Colorado Avalanche. The incident occurred after a penalty shot save, causing a brief halt in play.
Key points
- D.J. Smith is the interim coach of the LA Kings.
- The glass panel broke during Game 2 against the Colorado Avalanche.
- Smith ducked to protect himself from falling glass shards.
- He returned to the bench after being checked for injuries.
- The incident caused a brief halt in the game.
Los Angeles KingsColorado AvalancheD.J. SmithScott Wedgewood
Los Angeles Kings interim coach D.J. Smith avoided serious injury after a frightening incident during Game 2 against the Colorado Avalanche on April 21.
The game at Ball Arena in Denver saw a glass panel shatter behind the Kingsā bench in the second period. The moment stunned players and briefly halted play.
The incident followed a key penalty shot save by Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood on Quinton Byfield. Avalanche fans celebrated loudly and repeatedly pounded the glass behind the Kings bench. The pressure caused the panel to sway and then collapse. Smith felt the glass pressing against his back before it broke apart.
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Shards rained down on Smith, who quickly ducked to protect himself. He was hit multiple times as the glass fell onto his head and suit. Smith then walked to the locker room to remove debris and get checked. He returned to the bench shortly after, avoiding any major injury.
Officials paused the game for about 19 minutes as arena staff cleared the ice and replaced the glass.
Glass break incidents are not new in hockey, though this case stood out due to its location behind the bench. A similar moment occurred in 2025 involving an OHL coach, Dale Hunter, who also escaped harm.
LA Kings lost the game against the Avalanche
The delay did not disrupt the gameās momentum. The Avalanche secured a 2-1 overtime win to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Nicolas Roy scored the winner 7:44 into overtime, beating a defender and finding the net. Wedgewood finished with 24 saves, including the key penalty stop.
Q&A
What caused the glass panel to break behind the Kings bench?
The glass panel shattered due to the pressure from Avalanche fans repeatedly pounding on it after a key penalty shot save.
How did D.J. Smith react during the glass panel incident?
D.J. Smith felt the glass pressing against his back before it broke and quickly ducked to protect himself from the falling shards.
Did D.J. Smith sustain any injuries from the glass panel incident?
No, D.J. Smith avoided major injuries and returned to the bench shortly after being checked for debris.
