Few chances, fewer results

Perhaps lost in the debate over particular players is a pretty important statistic. The Kings, in their last six games, are 1 for 15 on the power play. That’s a problem for two reasons. First, it’s a bad percentage and second, and perhaps more importantly, 15 power plays in six games is a very small sum. Add to that the fact the fact that the Kings have given up four power-play goals in 18 chances during that span, and it’s a wonder the Kings even went 2-2-2 in those six games.

Here’s what Terry Murray said about the recent power-play dip…

MURRAY: “The lack of chances bothers me more than the lack of the actual goals. You can have a great power play and have it moving around and get a great number of scoring chances, and you’re saying, `Guys, just keep doing it.’ You reinforce the positive, it’s going to happen. You might be up against some hot goaltenders in some stretch of games, or you’re just not getting the job done at the end of the day. But when you’re not generating good offensive-zone time, not generating shots at the net and your attitude has changed, then that’s a concern. I think we’ve got in that second category a few times recently.

“We just need to get more offensive-zone time established and get back to keeping it simple, getting pucks to the net and that net presence. The ever-ready cliche of net presence is so important. We seem to just get away from that part of it a little bit. When goaltenders are seeing the puck, in this league, from above the top of the circles, they’re going to stop it.”

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