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Glass Shatters Behind Kings' Bench During Avalanche Overtime Win

4/22/2026

29 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

In Game 2, glass behind the Kings' bench shattered as fans celebrated after Scott Wedgewood saved a penalty by Quinton Byfield.
The break caused a 15- to 19-minute delay for repairs.
Avalanche won 2-1 in overtime to take a 2-0 lead.
D.J. Smith, interim Kings coach, was uninjured and described the incident as unusual; Avalanche players took it in stride.
Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday in Los Angeles.

History

Historical Context

In 1999, the NHL introduced safety regulations after a glass shattering incident during a game, prioritizing fan safety amid rising concerns. The New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche faced off in the Stanley Cup Finals that year, highlighting the league's commitment to secure environments. Recent incidents, like the glass break behind the Kings' bench, underscore ongoing challenges in ensuring spectator safety at high-stakes events.

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Story summary

In Game 2, glass behind the Kings' bench shattered as fans celebrated after Scott Wedgewood saved a penalty by Quinton Byfield.
The break caused a 15- to 19-minute delay for repairs.
Avalanche won 2-1 in overtime to take a 2-0 lead.
D.J. Smith, interim Kings coach, was uninjured and described the incident as unusual; Avalanche players took it in stride.
Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday in Los Angeles.

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