Parse sitting out

“Consistency” has been a word used, by Terry Murray in relation to Scott Parse, since shortly after Parse arrived with the Kings. Parse has shown good ability and, at times, has played himself into higher-profile roles, but it seems as though Parse can’t consistently satisfy his coach in terms of overall play. So Parse will be a healthy scratch tonight, replaced by Peter Harrold.

Here’s what Murray said today about Parse, who has eight goals and 11 assists in 45 games this season…

MURRAY: “I think I’ve spoken pretty highly of him in the past. He has scored some spectacular goals for us. He teases you a little bit with that, because you want that high energy, that intense play, all of the time. Right now, as a young player coming into the game, there’s that top end and then there’s a bottom that’s a little too low for me right now. I need to see that get pushed up to a higher level, so the consistency, shift after shift, game after game, is there.

“And I can’t exclude Teddy Purcell from that. It’s the same. We’re starting to become a pretty good group. We’re playing some good hockey in some very big games, and you have to have some predictability, from the coaching side of things, as to how the players are going to respond in those situations. Right now, with both guys, I’m looking at, sometimes, competitive board play, not coming up with pucks, decisions with the puck, not moving their feet at the right time, and that’s where it has to come from. It lies in their lap. This is a conversation that we’ve had, coaches with the players. They know, I believe, what we’re asking, and it needs to be there every day.”