Johnson almost there

When Drew Doughty got injured, Terry Murray talked about the opportunity for Jack Johnson to step up and take control on the blue line. How has it gone so far? In four games, Johnson has three points (all assists, on the power play), and in his past two games Johnson has averaged 29 minutes of ice time, a big jump from the first few games. Johnson has yet to score a goal this season, and when asked today about Johnson’s game, Murray noted how Johnson might be able to put himself on the goal ledger.

MURRAY: “The only part of Jack’s game that I need to see improvement on is on the power play — and maybe just on the offensive blue line — just shooting the puck. He’s got a great shot, whether it’s a wrist shot or a slap shot. It’s getting it to the net on a more consistent basis, to create a little havoc. Especially on the power play at a critical time last night in the third period. He got a little flat-footed, stationary. I think sometimes, young defensemen, they think they have to see the net and have to see the goaltender in order to take a shot. And you don’t. You just want to get it through that first layer, get it down in there so there can be some battles and loose pucks and stuff happens. We’re hesitant and over-passing and looking for a different look, whereas if he would just move his feet, drag and shoot more, I think he would give us an opportunity to be more successful offensively.”