Back at it

Jeff Halpern and Scott Parse, two players who were healthy scratches from Thursday’s loss to Chicago, will be back in the Kings’ lineup tonight in high-profile roles.

Halpern, who had centered the Kings’ fourth line since arriving in a March 3 trade from Tampa Bay, is expected to center Alexander Frolov and Justin Williams tonight, while Parse is expected to play right wing on a line with Ryan Smyth and Jarret Stoll. For both players, it’s a chance to show that they can thrive playing with more skilled players, since neither player has looked particularly strong of late in fourth-line roles. Terry Murray talked this morning about his expectations for both players…

(on Parse…)
MURRAY: “Scoring. I think he has a real knack. You watch him in the games, some of the goals he has scored this year have been highlight-reel goals. In practices, he’s got a great sense around the net, down below the hash marks, on the shooting drills. Scoring, that’s what I need from him tonight.”

(on Halpern…)
MURRAY: “I sat him out the other night. I had a meeting with him and talked a more specific role and expectations. I think this gives him an opportunity, with a couple wingers, to play with guys (like those) he has been playing with. Coming from Tampa Bay, coming from Dallas, he had the opportunity to play with their top players, and this is a game for him to jump in and play with those skill guys and play well.”

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