Doughty addressed the media Friday and commented on his forced absence from the Kings' crucial second game. "I don’t think for one second that was suspension-worthy," Doughty said. " ... I think it’s BS."
Carrier left the game and did not return, but told Doughty before leaving the ice that he thought it was a good hit, according to Helene Elliott of The L.A. Times.
The Kings and Knights will drop the puck on Game 2 on Friday night from T-Mobile Arena.
Now that all 16 teams competing in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs have kicked off their respective series, it's time for a small public service announcement, so take a deep breath and say it with us: "It's only Game 1."
And while there is no diminishing the importance of earning that first win on home ice and shaking off the first-round jitters, going down two games to none is obviously a much deeper hole to climb out of.
So, with that in mind, we take a look at one way each Game 1 loser can earn a big bounce-back win and draw the series level.
Eastern Conference
Washington Capitals
Key to winning Game 2: Cut out 3rd-period penalties.
The Caps were a few dumb penalties away from a convincing Game 1 victory over the Blue Jackets, as three third-period power plays propelled Columbus to a late-game comeback win, despite it trailing for the majority of the contest. The Jackets converted on two of their final-frame power plays and got the OT winner from a red-hot Artemi Panarin.
Philadelphia Flyers
Key to winning Game 2: Get more shots on Matt Murray.
If you've been keeping even half an eye on the NHL playoffs over the last couple seasons, you might have noticed goaltender Matt Murray is developing into one of the most clutch postseason performers currently playing. So the Flyers' 24 shots on net (only five in the third period) against the Pens in their Game 1 loss just won't get the job done.
Murray has already shown he doesn't get rattled easily and 24 shots are light work for a guy rocking two rings from his first two years in the show.
Realistically, there is no simple solution to beat Pittsburgh in a seven-game series. But if the Flyers want to shock the world, they will need to get a lot more shots on target and create some confusion in front of Murray's cage.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Key to winning Game 2: Be more disciplined.
Puck fans waking up in Toronto this morning had the unfortunate experience of not only having to deal with a Game 1 loss to the Boston Bruins, but also with a potential suspension for Nazem Kadri for his dirty hit on Tommy Wingels.
And while Kadri's five-minute major was enough of a setback, the Leafs sent Boston to the power play five other times, a number far too high given the Bruins own the fourth-most efficient power-play unit, converting at an impressive 25.5 percent clip.
New Jersey Devils
Key to winning Game 2: Shuffle lineup.
The Devils lost Game 1 to the speedy Tampa Bay Lightning in convincing fashion. And while Keith Kinkaid has earned the right to be starting for Jersey, John Hynes' decision to keep Damon Severson and Jesper Bratt in the press box is causing some fans to call for a lineup shuffle.
Instead, Hynes had the notoriously slow-footed Brian Boyle and Ben Lovejoy play against the Lightning on Thursday.
Sure, calling for a guy in Corey Schneider, who struggled mightily in the second half of the season, is most likely a foolish move. But, given the impressive speed of all four Tampa forward lines, the injection of Bratt and Severson's speed compared to that of Lovejoy and Boyle's could go a long way for New Jersey.
Western Conference
Minnesota Wild
Key to winning Game 2: Take out crowd energy by scoring first.
Minny was a Joe Morrow point shot away from taking Game 1 to an extra frame against the Winnipeg Jets. The Wild don't really need to do that much different to right the ship and earn a Game 2 victory.
But burying the first goal would go a very long way to help silence the raucous crowd at Bell MTS Place - a crowd that was kept mostly in check during the first game until Mark Scheifele got the home team on the board near the end of the second stanza.
It's hard to quantify something as intangible as a home-crowd advantage, but if you've ever watched a game in Winnipeg, you know how much energy the Jets get by feeding off the rabid crowd.
L.A. Kings
Key to winning Game 2: Generate more scoring chances.
A tight, one-goal shutout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night was a tough pill to swallow for the Kings. Even more so was losing Norris Trophy candidate and blue-line stud Drew Doughty for Game 2 due to suspension.
But the Kings' biggest hurdle to clear will be their relative inability to score.
The Kings finished in the bottom half of the league in goals per game at 2.89 and struggled to generate scoring chances against a Knights squad that averaged over three. Factor in that L.A. was badly out-chanced Wednesday in Game 1 (21 to 14 in favor of Vegas), and John Stevens' side will need to get its offense going if it wants to head back to California with a win in its pocket.
Colorado Avalanche
Key to winning Game 2: Pray that Jonathan Bernier steals the game.
Let's not get it twisted: The Nashville Predators are scary good. A stacked blue line, solid forward group, and a potential Vezina winner in Pekka Rinne between the pipes have earned Nashville the right to be called Cup favorites.
And after a convincing opening-game victory over the Avalanche on Thursday, it's clear Colorado just can't hang with the caliber and experience of the Predators' loaded core. Bernier will need to have a game for ages for the Avs to steal Game 2 in The Music City.
Anaheim Ducks
Key to winning Game 2: Convert on scoring chances/power play.
Another Game 1 result that wasn't indicative of how close the contest actually was, the Ducks' first game against the San Jose Sharks could have ended a lot differently had Anaheim capitalized on some of its chances with the man advantage.
The Ducks came up with goose eggs on all three of their PP opportunities, managing a measly three shots against Sharks goaltender Martin Jones.
Given all the close chances and hit posts Anaheim had during its loss, Game 2 should look a whole lot different if the Ducks can capitalize on their special teams chances.
Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was on hand to help deliver to Humboldt the game-worn, Broncos name-plated, jerseys worn by teammates and the Winnipeg Jets last Saturday, one week after the tragic bus crash.
NHL Jerseys for #BroncosStrong@JonathanToews and @NHLJets Winnipeg exec chairman Mark Chipman who came up with the idea for the Broncos names on back of jerseys last Saturday night. Invited by family to be at funeral for Jacob Leicht one of 3 funerals today. @CBCNewspic.twitter.com/lyIucpi6Io
Sixteen people died in the accident, in which the team bus collided with a semi-truck as the Broncos were making their way to Nipawin for a SJHL playoff game.
"I can't for one second pretend that I know what it's like for anyone close to this event, to know what they're going through what they're feeling," Toews said, per CBC News.
"But just to know the entire hockey world is there for them, support and love is there."
Both plays resulted in penalties - minor for Wilson and a major for Anderson - but neither will be suspended for their actions, reports Isabelle Kurshudyan of The Washington Post.
Meanwhile, Wennberg was ruled doubtful for Game 2, and Kempny is day-to-day.
The club's next square off Sunday, with the Blue Jackets holding a 1-0 series lead.
Dallas Stars bench boss Ken Hitchcock announced his retirement from coaching Friday after 22 seasons as a head coach. He'll remain with the team in a consultant role.
"Ken Hitchcock is an icon when it comes to head coaches, not only in hockey, but across all of sports," general manager Jim Nill said, according to Scott Bell of the Dallas Morning News. "He poured his whole life into better understanding in-game concepts and strategy, inspiring players and enhancing teams."
The 66-year-old led the Stars to their only Stanley Cup in franchise history in 1999.
Hitchcock inked a multi-year contract with Dallas at the completion of the 2016-17 regular season with the intention to join the front-office staff once the contract was finished.
He ends his coaching career as the 2012 Jack Adams Award winner and with 823 regular-season wins under his belt.
It was nine years in the making, but Evander Kane made a big splash in his first career postseason contest.
The San Jose Sharks forward scored twice in the second period Thursday, giving his team a 2-0 lead.
The first goal came on a five-on-three power play, when Kane took a Joe Pavelski pass in the slot and beat Anaheim Ducks netminder John Gibson glove side.
Nearly seven minutes later, Kane nabbed his second, taking another Pavelski pass and beating Gibson on a breakaway with a nifty backhand.
Kane has been productive since joining San Jose, as the latest tallies gave him 11 goals and 16 points in 18 games since being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres ahead of the trade deadline.
Nazem Kadri knows his fate is in the hands of the NHL's Department of Player Safety.
The Toronto Maple Leafs center was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding Tommy Wingels during Thursday's Game 1 against the Boston Bruins, and while he acknowledged it'll be reviewed by the league, he argued there wasn't much he could do to avoid it.
"It's out of my control at this point," Kadri said, per TSN's Mark Masters. "I certainly wasn't trying to hit him when he was down like that. I was already committed to the hit. If he's still standing up, there's nothing wrong with that."
Kadri added he was reacting to Wingels' hit on Mitch Marner moments earlier.
"Initially, I felt like he made contact with Mitchy's head and I didn't see a call there. He was turned up the wall so I was committed to the hit and he ended up falling. It happened quick and he was reaching for the puck. I don't think I stuck my leg or arm out."
Here's another look at the play in question:
Game 2 is set for Saturday in Boston, and Kadri may or may not be available, and the same goes for Wingels, according to Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy.
Bruce Cassidy said Tommy Wingels is still being evaluated. Said he agreed with the 5 minute major and the rest is up to the league
Kadri appeared to be retaliating after Zdeno Chara and Wingels hit Mitch Marner up high in quick succession.
The Leafs' talented agitator has been suspended multiple times in his career, and most recently received a four-game ban for cross-checking Luke Glendening of the Detroit Red Wings in April 2016.
