Kings Coach D.J. Smith Hit by Shattered Glass During Game Against Colorado
Los Angeles Kings interim coach D.J. Smith had shattered glass fall on him when a panel broke behind the team bench during Tuesday night's Game 2 against Colorado. Smith quickly ducked as the glass came down on him.
Los Angeles Kings interim coach D.J. Smith got an unexpected shower of glass during Tuesday night's playoff game against Colorado. A panel behind the Kings bench shattered, sending glass falling onto Smith during Game 2.
Smith felt pushing from behind before the glass came raining down on him. He quickly ducked to avoid getting hurt by the falling shards.
The incident happened right after Kings player Quinton Byfield was stopped on a penalty shot attempt. The timing suggests fan reactions may have played a role in the glass breaking.
Arena glass panels are designed to contain pucks and protect fans, but they can break under extreme pressure or impact. When panels shatter, they're designed to break into small pieces rather than large dangerous shards.
Smith appeared to be okay after the incident and continued coaching the game.
This shows how intense playoff hockey can get, with fans getting so excited they can literally break the arena. It also raises safety questions about protecting players and coaches from crowd-related incidents.
Arena officials will likely inspect other glass panels for safety before the next game.
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