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Cherry doesn't agree with one-game suspension for Kings defenceman Doughty

Don Cherry doesn't agree with the one-game suspension that was handed down to Los Angeles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty on Thursday.

Don Cherry doesn't agree with the one-game suspension that was handed down to Los Angeles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty on Thursday. 

Doughty was suspended for one game for an illegal check to the head of Vegas Golden Knights forward William Carrier in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Wednesday night.

Cherry spoke about the suspension on his Coach's Corner segment Thursday during the first intermission of Game 1 of the Maple Leafs-Bruins series, saying he thought the hit was to Carrier's shoulder, not his head.

"How could they suspend Doughty for one game like this? ... He hits this guy, hits his shoulder first and this guy goes off," Cherry said as a replay of the hit was shown. "Look at the shoulder, he hits the shoulder. What's he supposed to do?

"Now what you're doing is you're taking out the best defenceman in the league, taking him out of a playoff game because everybody wants to have him suspended. The sweethearts have him suspended."

Doughty will miss Game 2 on Friday night in Las Vegas. He delivered the blow at 9:58 of the third period, sending Carrier to the locker room for the remainder of the game.

The Golden Knights beat L.A. 1-0 in their first post-season game in franchise history.

The Kings outhit Vegas 68-59 during the game.

The Canadian Press