Doughty: Hockey needs fighting to avoid meatheads, rats

Los Angeles Kings star Drew Doughty's lasting impression from Thursday's 2-1 win over the rival Anaheim Ducks was a second-period fight between teammate Kurtis MacDermid and Anaheim's Nicolas Deslauriers.

"The highlight for me is Dermy chuckin' em with Deslauriers, that was a great fight," Doughty said. "Got us really pumped up and we were able to get the win."

Doughty was then asked about the decline of fighting across the NHL.

"It can't make its way out of the league, we need fighting," he replied. "I know people don't like it, some of you, but then you're gonna have all those meatheads running around, little guys being rats out there. That's just the way it's gonna go. We need fighting. People need to be able to protect their teammates and themselves. When it's safe like that and no one gets hurt, that's the best way."

Los Angeles was up 2-0 at the time of the scrap and held on to earn two points despite being outshot 37-27.

Doughty recorded one assist in the victory, giving him 21 points in 31 games this season.