Rising to occasion

Jack Johnson had what a few team followers believed might have been one of his strongest games of the season. In 22:31 of ice time, Johnson had two assists, both on the power play, and it seems as though Johnson should get used to even more power-play time. On the game-winning power-play goal, Johnson was on the ice with Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, Michal Handzus and Ryan Smyth, and Terry Murray liked the look, and Johnson’s overall play in Game 2.

MURRAY: “Absolutely outstanding. We’re going to keep him on the power play with Doughty. I loved what he did. With his agility and mobility on the blue line, lateral movement, looking people off and getting wrist shots to the net. He’s such a strong kid. He has the knack of getting the puck to the net. A lot of defensemen can make those moves and then it hits a stick, hits a foot, hits a leg, and they’re not quite getting it to the net, but he has that knack, and pucks do end up at the net. Now you’ve got those second and third opportunities. That’s a skill in itself, and we’re going to keep him going.”