Change in focus

For all the stress put on the improvement in 5-on-5 scoring, it’s worth noting that the Kings really weren’t that bad, at all, at even strength last season. They were 10th in the league in 5-on-5 plus/minus ratio, meaning that at 1.06, they scored slightly more than the allowed (the margin was 145-135). The problem is, the 145 goals, 5-on-5, ranked them 19th in the league, so that’s why so much attention has been paid to that stat by Dean Lombardi, Terry Murray, etc.

“My approach, at the beginning, will be similar to what it has been in the past,” Murray said. “The most important thing is getting that foundation in the checking part of the game. That’s always the part that we will be identified with. But we’re looking at pushing more of the offensive side of the game. I know that we have to improve on the 5-on-5 offensive numbers. As you saw in the first hour (Saturday), with the first group, we’re encouraging puck possession. We want attacks. We want little plays made in that offensive zone, driving hard through to the net, getting pucks to the net. We’ll stay with that throughout the camp and I believe, over the long haul, that’s going to pay big dividends for us.”

Still, Murray’s major emphasis will continue to be on the defensive side of the game. The Kings allowed only 135 goals in 5-on-5 situations, which ranked them fourth (second place New Jersey allowed 134; first-place Phoenix allowed 131), and the Kings allowed an average of only 27.6 shots on goal per game, the third-best total in the league. That last stat, in particular, has been the Kings’ bread and butter under Murray.

“The checking, defensive part of the game has got to be as good, or better, than what it was in the past, last year in particular,” Murray said. “I thought we had a nice improvement on that side of it. So those numbers have to continue to stay the same or get better. I think because now we’re becoming more of an experienced, veteran hockey club that we’re capable of getting up the ice and making the correct reads, so that you’re on the attack, you recognize the situation, the transition is coming back and we’re making those adjustments very quickly.”

Does there have to be a tradeoff, though? If the Kings’ goal is to open up the offense more, that has the potential, at least, to make them more exposed at times on the back end. Is Murray willing to concede a few more chances on defense if it translates to a few more scoring chances for his team?

“I don’t want to start going there, with giving up more, thinking that’s part of what happens because you’re going to encourage your blue-line guys to be up the ice more often,” Murray said. “I think that with the experience they have in the games, they’re going to be able to play the game the right way on both sides of the puck, identify those situations. Especially Doughty and Jack Johnson on the back end, be a part of it but at the same time, get back and recover and be in position if the transition is coming at you.”