ANAHEIM, Ca. — Los Angeles Kings starting goalie Pheonix Copley was ejected after being given a match penalty for throwing a punch while still wearing his blocking glove during their game against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.
The incident began at 19:36 of the second period, when Ducks forward Max Jones was entangled with two Kings defensemen to Copley's left after Copley had made a save to stop play. While the scrum was happening, Anaheim forward Frank Vatrano skated in front of the crease and threw a left jab at Copley's mask.
Copley and Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson both went after Vatrano and took him to the ice. Copley delivered a series of punches to Vatrano on the ice while wearing his blocker pad on his right arm, before eventually shaking it off.
Copley was in violation of NHL Rule 51, which states that a referee can issue a match penalty if "a goalkeeper uses his blocking glove to punch an opponent in an attempt to or to deliberately injure an opponent."
Ducks goalie John Gibson skated to center ice while the altercation was still going on and banged his stick, seeking to fight Copley. But the on-ice officials skated Copley away to serve his match penalty, which Gibson met with a shrug.
Copley and Gibson were assessed minor penalties for leaving their creases. Vatrano and Jones drew roughing minors, as did the Kings' Anderson and Doughty.
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick replaced Copley for the remainder of the game, which Los Angeles won 6-3.
Copley, who turned aside 16 of 17 shots during Friday's game, has been huge boost for Los Angeles this season, and owns a 17-3-1 record and a 2.70 goals-against average.
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