Loktionov staying put

Given that the Kings have four days between games, it would have been easy for them to dump the experiment of having Andrei Loktionov on the first line with Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown, but Terry Murray is staying with it. In his two games, Loktionov has averaged 17 minutes of ice time, with some power-play work, and has totaled three shots on goal without a point. I asked Murray for his thoughts on Loktionov’s play so far.

MURRAY: “I like what I’m seeing, as far as the chemistry with the line. I think Kopi and Brownie are working and doing their part to help him settle in and making the game as easy as they can for him. He’s got great composure. Great things will start to happen, I think, as we stick with it over the next little while. The one thing that’s very hard for young players, coming in, is the speed of the game. You had a very fast game against Vancouver, and a very close-checking game. There was not much room in any of the ice to carry the puck. You had to make quick plays, and that’s an adjustment these young guys have to make a little faster in order to have some success.”

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