Offense from defense?

Jack Johnson scored a third-period power-play goal last night, and in all reality, it was the first “intentional” goal by a Kings defenseman this season. Willie Mitchell also scored against the Stars, in the Oct. 28 game at Dallas, but with all due respect to Mitchell, his goal came off a highly fortunate deflection in front of the Dallas net. Johnson’s shot found its way through traffic and gave him one goal to go with 10 assists this season.

The Kings have been winning despite the lack of goal production from the blue line. Drew Doughty, who had 16 goals last season, has yet to score (and has one assist). Terry Murray talked today about getting more production from the defense…

MURRAY: “More of a shot mentality on the power play, first of all. I liked what the look was there last night. We had several opportunities. Then on 5-on-5, those guys are very good at becoming the second part of the attack. We just encourage that, and things will open up for them. Keep pushing it. Drew’s game is starting to get back on track, and good things will happen on the offensive part of the game.”

Johnson’s 10 assists, six of which have come on the power play, are certainly nothing to sneeze at, and Murray acknowledged that both Doughty and Johnson are being targeted more this season by opponents who are aware of their offensive capabilities.

MURRAY: “Sure, absolutely. Right through the playoffs last year, there was more physical play against those guys, and that’s what you expect, as a team and as a player. Now you’ve got to find another way, another gear. You’ve got to be able to change a little bit of what you’ve been doing in your game, to get back to the results that you were getting in the past. That’s the fun part of being a pro player. There’s a challenge. Every time you step up to the next level, someone is going to try to shut you down, and you try to break through with a different look.”