Game 3 Incident Overview
In a dramatic scene during Game 3 of the playoff series between the Los Angeles Kings and the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night, interim head coach D.J. Smith found himself in a precarious situation when a pane of glass broke behind the Kings’ bench. The incident unfolded following a pivotal moment in the game, where Quinton Byfield’s penalty shot was thwarted by Avalanche netminder Scott Wedgewood with 16:48 remaining in the second period.
Glass Shattering Incident
As the excitement surged among the fans, their enthusiastic cheers led to the glass shaking dangerously before it ultimately shattered, showering Smith with debris. In quick reflexes, Smith ducked to avoid injury, shielding his head from the falling pieces. After ensuring he was unharmed, he brushed off the glass shards from his suit and retreated to the locker room for a brief period. Shortly thereafter, he re-emerged as the game was momentarily halted.
Response and Reactions
The disruption prompted the Avalanche’s maintenance crew to spring into action, utilizing shovels and buckets to clear away the fragments littering the LA bench. Meanwhile, the Kings players remained on the ice, awaiting the installation of a new glass pane amidst the delay, which stretched over 15 minutes.
Interestingly, Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog remarked to ESPN analyst Erik Johnson that he had never witnessed such an incident before, commenting on the intense atmosphere when Wedgewood made his save, which could have contributed to the glass breaking due to fans’ excitement.
At the time of the stoppage, the score stood at 0-0, reflecting the high stakes of the match.
