Practice?

The Kings were on the ice for about an hour this morning, after which they packed up their bags and made plans to get to the airport. It’s been a long three weeks of training camp, and the sight of an airplane had to be a welcomed one for everyone, including Terry Murray…

MURRAY: “The guys are ready to go. I’ve talked to a few of the veteran players over the last several days, and it’s `Let’s get playing.’ (It’s been) `Practice, practice.’ It’s been like Allen Iverson. `Practice, practice.’ Let’s go. `Talking about the MVP of the league? Practice?’ [laughs] We’re looking forward to getting going here tomorrow.”

Murray was also asked about his opening-night philosophy. The Kings are facing the Vancouver Canucks, who are counting on a big season, playing their home opener, starting their 40th anniversary season and naming a new captain (expected to be Henrik Sedin). What is the strategy in a situation such as that?

MURRAY: “You can go two ways on that. You can say it’s opening night, you’re on the road and they’re going to come out with lots of energy, so you have to make sure you’re really structured, staying back, staying above it, not letting them have any plays coming at you, making them work for everything. Or you can say, `Let’s be on the balls of our feet and really be jumping with pressure and push and get pucks in deep and make them play in their own end.’ That’s just a philosophy, and you see it both ways and you see it work both ways.”

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