Penner capitalizes on `new season’

A continuing storyline for the Kings in this postseason has been the play of Dustin Penner. In 10 playoff games, Penner has two goals and five assists, but even if he had zero points, there would still be a noticeable improvement in Penner’s game. He’s playing a 200-foot game. He’s moving well, forechecking and battling to keep pucks alive. It’s been quite a turnaround for a player who was made a healthy scratch in the latter part of the season, and who, at one point, seemed to be on the verge of being out of the lineup permanently. Darryl Sutter was asked about a team’s ability to “rally around’’ a player such as Penner, as he tries to make a personal comeback.

SUTTER: “The best way is to be honest in all that stuff, right? The season started, (then) the playoffs started, then he gets a season by winning rounds, a new season again. You know, he’s a popular guy in the locker room, so that has obviously helped him. Quite honestly, as I said, I have a good relationship with him. He knows exactly where he stands, and that’s good.’’

The great Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com wrote about Penner today in a story that can be found by clicking here.

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