Time to change

As posted earlier, the Kings will make changes to three of their four forward lines tonight. The top line (Smyth-Kopitar-Simmonds) remains intact, while the second line gets a new center (Brad Richardson), the third line gets a new winger (Justin Williams) and Jarret Stoll moves down to the fourth-line center spot. Scott Parse comes out of the lineup. After today’s skate, Terry Murray talked about making the mid-series changes…

MURRAY: “I changed things a little bit here, to get some different looks. We’ll get Williams back in the lineup tonight. He’s a player that’s been to the playoffs and has won the Stanley Cup and, at this time, in Game 5, I need the experience and I also know that he’s very capable of putting the puck in the net. He’s a creative guy, he can score goals, he can fit with different lines. We can use him on special-teams situations, and I’m looking for a big game from him.”

Question: Richardson is a player who can transition pretty easily to playing center, right?

MURRAY: “He’s been great for us, quite honestly, from the start of this year, from the training camp he has moved up from the fourth line to different positions and different lines. He has no problem making any kind of adjustment. I think he’s really had a positive effect on our hockey club, probably our most improved hockey player over the course of the year. He will take on the challenge. He’s a creative guy. He’s got good speed. He can carry the puck out of the zone, through the middle of the ice, make things happen. He’s good on the forecheck, quick on the forecheck, so it’s a good challenge for him tonight.”

Question: What prompted you to make the change on that second line?

MURRAY: “The line with Fro and Stolly and Brownie, I just need more on the puck-possession, offensive part of the game. Put more pucks to the net, create more offense, whether it be getting offensive-zone play, cycling the puck, holding on to it a little bit longer to make good things happen or getting the result and putting pucks in the net. I’m looking at the group, and it went through a period this season of the same, not a lot happening, just getting their time on the ice, and I hope that this change gives us a good look on that possession side of it.”

Finally, here’s what Dustin Brown said today about the line changes…

BROWN: “That’s kind of to be expected, I guess, with a loss. We played a good game, but it seems like when we lose we shuffle the lines up a little bit, and at this point of the year it really doesn’t matter who you’re playing with. It’s a matter of playing your game, and that’s what we want to do tonight.”

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