Moreau feels right on left side

Before last Saturday’s game at Philadelphia, the Kings made a subtle change. The third line, with center Jarret Stoll and wingers Ethan Moreau and Brad Richardson, remained intact, but the wingers swapped spots, with Moreau going to left wing and Richardson going to right wing. The move was more about Moreau than it was about Richardson, who regularly plays any of the three forward positions. Signed as a free agent this summer, Moreau told the Kings he would play either wing, but he’s a natural left winger. After three games on the right side, the move was made and the dividends seem obvious. Moreau played well against the Flyers and looked even stronger in Tuesday’s victory over St. Louis.

Moreau, who turned 36 last month, has yet to record a point in five games but he’s been a responsible two-way player and a big part of the Kings’ penalty-kill unit early in the season. I talked to Moreau today about his move back to the left side, and asked whether it was fair to say that, overall, he’s feeling more comfortable with every game…

MOREAU: “Yeah, that’s fair to say. It’s a bit of an adjustment, just with the way that we play here. The system is perfect for me. On the right side, I was a little hesitant but I started to get the hang of that, and now I’m back on the left where I’m comfortable. If I have to go back on the right, I felt like it was coming at the right time. The team is playing well. Everything is good right now.’’

Question: Moving back to the left side, during that Philadelphia game, how much did that help?

MOREAU: “I started to play better during that game. The way I play, if you have any hesitation, you’re a second slow on the forecheck and less physical, but I felt really good the last three games. Offensively, it will come, it will get better, and it’s been fun so far.’’

Question: I’m sure you know, already, what an emphasis the coaches place on penalty killing. How have you been able to adapt to the system early on?

MOREAU: “There’s some little nuances that you have to get used to, that are a little bit different on every team. It took a couple games but I feel way more comfortable now. Penalty killing is a lot like forechecking. You have to be instinctual. You can’t have any hesitation in your game. That was the case early. In the first couple games, I was still trying to read plays and read the systems, but now, it’s what I’ve done for my whole career and it kind of comes naturally.’’

Terry Murray also, in an unrelated line of questioning, pointed out Moreau as having a strong game against the Blues…

MURRAY: “I thought Moreau’s game was good last night, probably his best game as an L.A. King. He was big, he was strong, he was physical. He went to the net and did a lot of good things in the overall view, in the overall evaluation of the game, the way I’m looking at it. I liked what I saw. He’s better as a left winger than he is as a right winger. I’m starting to see that, although he will probably deny that. [laughs] I think his game is better on that side.’’