Back, in big ways

Drew Doughty hasn’t played since Oct. 20 and Scott Parse hasn’t been in an NHL game since April, but both will be in high-profile roles tonight. Parse will be the Kings’ first-line left winger and Doughty will be back in his customary spot on the Kings’ top defensive pairing, with Willie Mitchell. Kings coach Terry Murray said he’s not hesitant about giving the major responsibilities to Doughty and Parse in their returns…

(on Doughty…)
MURRAY: “We’ll just put him in and let him play. He’s been practicing a lot and his conditioning is good. I’m hoping that he’s up toward that 27-, 28-minute mark tonight. I have no problem with it. … I’m not really concerned about his conditioning, quite honestly. He’s been doing a lot of skating. Even when we were on the road, he was getting on the ice. He looks good, he’s got a lot of jump in his stride and if those minutes are there for him, and he gets it, I think he will come through it fine.”

(on Parse…)
MURRAY: “I’m not just going to let him run. He’s got to play the game the right way. You’ve got to play within your linemates and your system. But Parse, in particular, is a guy who can be a very explosive player on the offensive part of the game, and I want to see him get there. There will be some issues. There will be some turnovers, probably, that will happen. There are some acceptable areas and some areas that are not acceptable, and if he’s got the right mindset — which he does — you encourage him to get his game in order as quickly as possible and you bite the bullet through some of those plays that might come back at you on the rush. Hopefully we have people in place, system-wise, that are going to support him.”