'Fans got a little too excited': Rowdy fans cause 19 minute delay in NHL game after shattering glass pane
An NHL head coach was showered in broken glass after excited fans banged on the barrier behind the away team's bench, completely shattering the pane.
Los Angeles Kings coach D.J. Smith was right in the firing line, being covered in tempered glass while his ice hockey players evacuated the bench to avoid the incoming shards.
The glass began to sway behind the visitors bench as excited Colorado Avalanche fans pounded on it. The glass barrier then gave way, with pieces raining down on Smith, causing him to cover his head.
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The second NHL playoff match between the LA Kings and Colorado Avalanche grew rowdy during the second period in the Avalanche's home stadium, Ball Arena in Denver.
The glass hit LA's head coach and players on the bench. Twitter
While neither team could score a goal, Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog told ESPN afterwards that he'd never seen something like the glass pane shattering happen before.
"It was loud there when 'Wedgy' (goaltender Scott Wedgewood) made that save and fans got a little too excited," he said.
"You've seen it from slapshots and maybe hard hits in the corners, things like that. Never like that."
The broken glass led to a 19-minute delay.
There was a delay in the game for Ball Arena stadium workers to replace the glass pane. Twitter
Half a dozen stadium workers shovelled glass away and eventually added a new pane, with the crowd erupting in cheers at the new installation.
The LA Kings players all left the bench to avoid broken glass, with Smith and the other coaches returning to the dressing room.
They all eventually returned for the start of the third period.
