Since the Kings put Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson on the same power-play unit, the goals have come in bunches. You might remember that the Kings have put Doughty and Johnson together, during 5-on-5 play, at a couple different times in the past couple years, but the results weren’t particularly good. What’s different now? Terry Murray had an interesting take on it today, and also answered the good-natured question of, “What took you so long?”
MURRAY: “We’re seeing good things on the power play right now. I think it’s more just because time has gone by, and meetings are being held and the practices that go on, with the repetitions. You start to get good puck movement in the offensive zone and that, in itself, even though you might not score, does give that group some confidence. They feel good, and it carries over to the 5-on-5. With Jack and with Drew, in particular, I think the experience that they’ve gone through, four or five times together this year as a pair, 5-on-5 for a series of games, has certainly paid off for them. They’re starting to read off each other much better.
“I’m seeing a lot more enthusiasm when good things happen. They’re celebrating now, when goals are getting scored. They’re tapping each other on the pads. They’re playing hard for each other now. Maybe a little bit, in the early part of the season, it was trying to do a lot by yourself, `I’ve got the ability, I have the talent.’ I don’t know if that may be the right thing to say, but I kind of sensed that. Right now, it’s all about the team, and they’re really happy for each other when something good happens.”
Question: What was it that motivated you to make the change?
MURRAY: “We needed to get some better results from the back end, quite honestly. Stoll has done a pretty good job there for a couple years. We just felt that with Jack Johnson there, there’s a little bit more mobility on that lateral movement across the blue line. I think the facts are, now, that we’re seeing that kind of play, and it’s getting us some good results in this series.”
Question: Do you kick yourself at all for not making the move sooner?
MURRAY: “Well, he [Johnson] was out there in the other group. It wasn’t like he wasn’t out there on the power play at all. He was getting the same number of minutes, only with the other group, and he was the quarterback of that group. Now, we’ve got two guys who we look at as quarterbacks. They’ve got some nice instincts moving the puck, great mobility and, obviously, both have great shots. It’s nice to bring it together.”
It does seem like Jack and Drew are much more in love with each other, but it could just be the whole playoff excitement thing.
It’s a small thing, but I noticed after the PP goals in the last game, they both go to each other to celebrate before joining in the group fest with the forwards. Usually everyone kinda gravitates towards the goal scorer.
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I have noticed Jack being a lot more active, moving his feet a lot better. I love when Drew & Jack switch on the blue line and it just confuses the defenders
DD & JJ are great quarterbacks!
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a month ago i went to a practice(after the Olympics) and they seemed to get along well…. listening to the Coach it seems like the competition beteween the two wasnt good as it is now…
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I think that earlier in the season they were trying to out do each other,now they are trying to make each other better.They both know what is at stake now.It’s all about the team now.
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When you are watching Symth going into the corners at top speed knowing he is going to get creamed, everybody else better be playing a team game.
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I could say the same about any of the guys who have been to the finals.
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What luckyluc13 said. I agree. JJ has shown the improvement imho. DD was great throughout the year and has the stats to back it up.
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Bringing back memories of Alexei Zhitnik and Darryl Sydor in ’92-’93.
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Duh. PP lines don’t need balance. PP1 should be the best 5 guys. Sometimes weapons vary like a big body to screen the goalie. But you can’t dull a PP by putting a weak link out there. It’s like night and day now. What took so long, Coach? Just makes me think Murray doesn’t care about reg. season droughts — waited for the playoffs to do the obvious. I prefer going for it every game, not going on cruise control for 82. Our current PP1 lacks all that regular season 5-on-4 experience together, but it doesn’t seem to matter now. They’re sure to be lights out next season too!
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EVERYONE on this team celebrates goals together. When someone scores, the other guys on the ice react as if each one himself had put the puck in.
Attitude/ego issues, divisiveness–those problems can sink great teams. Happened many times in many sports.
Let the opponents do the infighting. Ain’t happening here.
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I think the biggest thing I’ve noticed is that Jack is taking wristers instead of slap shots. He’s getting shots through and on net, and that’s leading to rebounds and opportunities. Traffic + Shots on net = rebounds.
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It’s too bad Doughnuts still won’t answer to JMFJ’s texts.
ha, ha, j/k.
Go Kings!
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Simple. The Olympics turned Jack Johnson from a good player to a great player.
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