Defense steps up on offense

At least for one game, the Kings got the type of offensive support from defenseman that they sought. Not only did Alec Martinez and Drew Doughty record their first goals of the season, but defensemen recorded 10 of the Kings’ 30 shots on goal, including a team-high five from Jack Johnson. That’s the type of effort Terry Murray will seek to have the Kings duplicated tonight against Vancouver.

MURRAY: “There were shots on goal, there were goals scored. I just really liked the way we played, from the back end, as a group. The guys were really focused on keeping good, tight gaps in the middle of the ice. They were active in the offensive zone, keeping pucks alive. And that really allows your forwards to get their speed going, to get on the puck, to be instinctive in their play. We had some nice things going on in the offensive zone, on the cycle, and it was largely due to the reads that the defensemen were making. So there was a nice jump in their reads in their game all night long.’’

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