Checking line reunited

Today’s notebook will be posted on LAKings.com shortly, and I’ll be working on a story about the Penguins coming to town, and the issue of Eastern Conference teams not visiting the West every year, etc.

I’m told there was no huge news out of practice today, other than Frolov’s return and the reunion of the Frolov-Handzus-Simmonds line. Terry Murray had talked about Simmonds, in the context of what he learned from the experience of playing on the first line while Justin Williams was injured. Here’s what Murray said…

MURRAY: “I think that’s probably what it was, just the experience to play on a top line. He did the same stuff that he’s doing on other lines. He holds the puck, makes plays, he knows that the role is getting the puck in deep and trying to stop it up on the forecheck, buy some opportunity for Kopi and Smitty to get possession of the puck in the offensive zone. Now they take over and that’s their strength. I’d like to think now, that with Simmer getting a taste of it, that at any time I could make that change during a game, if necessary.”