Kings going `all-in’ on power play

In the previous post, we talked about possible changes to the shootout lineup. Well, tonight there will definitely be changes to the power-play unit. Rather than spread out what he perceives to be his top power-play performers over two units, Terry Murray will push them together into one group that, likely, would play the bulk of the two minutes during any power play. That group will likely be Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson, Anze Kopitar, Ryan Smyth and Michal Handzus, who have combined for 19 of the Kings’ 31 power-play goals this season. Doughty and Johnson had previously been split over the two units, but they were put together last night during the Kings’ second (and final) power play, and puck movement seemed to improve. The second unit, unless Murray decides to make more changes, likely will be made up of Jarret Stoll, Alec Martinez, Dustin Brown, Justin Williams and Andrei Loktionov. The Kings are 1-for-28 on the power play in their last 10 games.

MURRAY: “Sometimes, in my experience, you want to have two good power-play groups, but when something is not clicking on either one of them, then it’s time to re-address it and maybe go with the best you can put together on one group and play them as much as they can handle. Then you come back with the second group. That’s what we’re going to try here tonight. Kind of put the top guys together, and hopefully we can get the result. Hopefully we can get a few power plays and get something happening on it.”