Toffoli made magazine cover in unusual way

LOS ANGELES -- Tyler Toffoli first got a text message from his father, Rob. Then the texts came in from his friends.

Toffoli made news.

No, this wasn't after a big goal or a big play. The Los Angeles Kings forward was on a regional cover of this week's Sports Illustrated -- upside down, to be exact, on the receiving end of a hit by Marcus Kruger of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Yes, Toffoli has been posterized.

"I think my dad maybe texted me and everyone else texted me so it was kind of funny," Toffoli said after the morning skate Thursday. "It's not a big deal. It's hockey. You get hit. It's a pretty funny picture, to be honest."

Toffoli posted on his Twitter account: "Thanks @SINow for putting me on the cover #hangonmywall?"

Toffoli, 21, is mature enough to take it in stride. He's actually a good story for the Kings, with two goals and five points in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He had a goal in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against the Blackhawks and a goal and an assist in Game 2. The American Hockey League rookie of the year, Toffoli is playing a top-six forward role on a line with Dustin Penner and Jeff Carter.

To some, though, he might be known more for the SI cover, at least this week. In a sense, Toffoli said it was an honor.

"It's pretty cool," he said. "You grow up reading that magazine. It's pretty cool. All my buddies are laughing about it."