Roenick Is Angry After Hard Hit

King center Jeremy Roenick left Sunday’s exhibition against Phoenix at Staples Center with a concussion after being hit by Denis Gauthier, then reacted angrily to what he called a “lack of respect” on the play.

Roenick suffered what is at least the 10th concussion of his career and will be re-evaluated today. He criticized Gauthier for a hit he said was unnecessary.

“I think it indicates the state of our game, the lack of respect, especially in the preseason,” Roenick said. “It is uncalled for, it is ridiculous, it is one of the reasons our game isn’t as good as it once was.

“I’m not saying it wasn’t a clean hit, but you don’t do that in the preseason. Last week in Phoenix, I let him off the hook when I had him lined up out of respect for him being a veteran player. It needs to be addressed.”

Roenick had taken a pass from Alexander Frolov and Gauthier came across the ice and slammed him into the boards 2 minutes 25 seconds into the second period.

“I respect Gauthier; he’s a hard player,” Roenick said. “But there is no reason to do this.... He came a long way across the ice to make that hit.

“Something like this would never have happened in the early 1980s. We’ve lost a lot of respect for each other since. There is no reason for that, especially with what we have just been through as a union.”

Gauthier said that the hit was “unfortunate.” The Kings’ response was quick. Tom Kostopoulos jumped Gauthier behind the Phoenix net two shifts later.

“It was a clean hit,” Gauthier said. “It was one of those situations where we were both going the same direction. I tried to finish the check and he tried to kind of cut in and he cut into my shoulder.

“I don’t wish that on anybody. But it’s part of the game. I’ve been in that situation. It’s something you got to live with.”

Roenick said he believed he would return quickly from the hit.

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The Kings scored five third-period goals, four on the power play, to overcome a two-goal deficit in a 7-4 victory over the Coyotes. Frolov had two goals and Pavol Demitra had a goal and two assists.