Drew Doughty knows the challenge that awaits him as the Los Angeles Kings get set to take on the Edmonton Oilers.
Doughty has had his fair share of experience trying to slow down Connor McDavid and it hasn’t always gone his way.
Ahead of Game 1, Doughty says McDavid should expect some special treatment during the series considering some recent history.
Back on March 30, McDavid was assessed a two-minute boarding penalty for a hit on defenceman Mikey Anderson, Doughty’s defensive partner.
Anderson was forced to miss the rest of the regular season following the hit but will be in the lineup for the series opener.
“It’s not something we forget,” said Doughty about McDavid’s hit. “I don’t know that we’re going to take dumb penalties on them, but if we get the chance to smack him, we’re going to try and do that.”
When the Oilers and Kings met in the playoffs last year, Doughty had to watch from the press box because of a wrist injury. It was the Kings’ return to the post-season after a three-year absence.
Los Angeles hasn’t won a playoff round since their second Stanley Cup championship run in 2014.
“It was like watching your kid play in a game, basically,” Doughty said. “I was worried anyone was going to make a mistake. I was super intense in the game. I’d be yelling up top (that) they should have a penalty or something like that. If we scored, (I was) jumping up and down.”
Game 1 between the Oilers and Kings can be viewed on Sportsnet at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
