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Tkachuk is a ‘pretty dirty player,’ says Doughty

The Kings lost to the Calgary Flames on Sunday, a result that is another hit to L.A.'s chances for a playoff berth.

Jonathan Quick was pulled midway through the first period after giving up a pair of goals on just seven shots and the Kings were sloppy with the puck in a 5-2 defeat.

However, one of the bigger stories to emerge from this game was an elbow thrown by Calgary rookie forward Matthew Tkachuk on Kings’ veteran defenseman Drew Doughty late in the first period.

Doughty was hurt on the play but did remain in the game.

So far, the league’s Department of Player Safety hasn’t made any announcement about any potential hearings, however Doughty certainly expressed his opinion of Tkachuk afterward.

“He’s a pretty dirty player, that kid,” said Doughty, per LA Kings Insider.

“To be a rookie and play like that is a little surprising. I don’t know exactly what happened because I got hit in the head, but I thought he elbowed me. I can’t tell you for sure, so I’m not going to really say if I think anything should happen, but whatever it was, it hurt pretty bad, and it’s going to hurt for a little bit.”

When asked about the incident, Calgary coach Glen Gulutzan naturally said he hadn’t seen a replay, but from the bench, it appeared to be what he called a “reverse hit.”

There was no call for the elbow, although Tkachuk and Derek Forbort were given roughing minors for the ensuing scrum.

Meanwhile, the Kings remain six points out of the final wild card spot in the Western Conference -- with only 11 games remaining on their schedule.