Los Angeles Kings defensemen Matt Roy, Sean Walker leave game after scary injuries vs. Minnesota Wild
Thursday night’s Kings-Wild game got off to a physical start as Minnesota’s Marcus Foligno and Los Angeles’ Kurtis MacDermid dropped the gloves off the opening faceoff.
It ended badly for the Kings as they lost two defensemen to scary-looking injuries during the 5-3 loss.
“Emotionally, it takes a lot out of a team to see two teammates leave like that,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said after the game.
Matt Roy had to be helped off the ice in the second period when he was checked from behind by Minnesota forward Kevin Fiala.
Fiala shoved the defenseman as they chased a loose puck and Roy fell head first into the boards. Fiala received a five-game boarding major and a game misconduct, and could face supplemental discipline.
During the third period, the Kings’ Sean Walker left the game after he was hit in the face by a slap shot from Minnesota defenseman Matt Dumba. He was bleeding as he skated bent over toward the bench, was examined and then helped to the dressing room. Dumba checked on him before he left.
“I feel so bad about that,” a shaken Dumba said after the game. “It’s got to be one of the worst shots I’ve taken in my career. … I’ve got to go apologize after this.”
Neither defenseman returned and McLellan said they were being looked at by doctors.
“I hope they’ll be able to travel home with us, but obviously two very unfortunate incidents in the game, and not something you want to see in the game at all,” he said. “But I think they’re going to be OK eventually.”
