Going `fourth’ with some strong play

Terry Murray often talks about balance, and the ability to roll four lines, but not often this season has he been able to find that balance. Actually, most coaches talk about it, and it’s relatively hard to find around the league. But over the past few games, the Kings’ fourth line has arguably been as effective as it has been this season, with veteran Michal Handzus centering Brad Richardson and Alexei Ponikarovsky. In the game before the break, for instance, each player contributed. Ponikarovsky scored the game-tying goal in the third period, Richardson had five of the Kings’ 20 shots on goal and Handzus played a good two-way game (including special teams) and was 9-for-10 in the faceoff circle. Murray talked about what each player has brought to the line in recent games…

MURRAY: “The first thing that jumps out to me is that Handzus is really starting to bounce back. He looked very energized. He looked strong. He’s to where he needs to be, in my view. So that’s the most positive thing that I’m seeing out of the last couple games, from that line. I like what Poni is doing right now. He’s showing the kind of work ethic that I saw in his game before the injury. He’s getting on top of pucks. He’s using his body and trying to get some hits to stir up some loose pucks. Then he ends up scoring the big goal. I hope that part of it really gives him some confidence to keep it going in the second half. Richie has had a pretty decent year. All season long, he has moved into different lines, different positions, and he’s using his speed and getting pucks to the net to hopefully get some goals. It’s surprising to me that he’s got only the few that he has, quite honestly, because he does have a quick release and does get the pucks to the net. So maybe things are coming for him on the offensive part of the game.”