Parse, Penner staying put for now

The Kings made two notable lineup moves before Thursday’s game at Dallas, as they reinserted Scott Parse into the lineup in a second-line role — after a six-game absence — and moved Dustin Penner to the third line. Both moves seemed to work. Parse scored his first goal of the season — although he did get called for three minor penalties — and Penner did not get on the score sheet but his play seemed improved in almost 14 minutes of ice time. The lines stayed the same in practice today. Here’s what Terry Murray thought about Parse and about Penner’s play on the third line with Jarret Stoll and Brad Richardson.

MURRAY: “(Parse) played very well for the 60 minutes. I thought his composure with the puck, his playmaking ability, everything that we’ve seen in the past and what’s probably been missing in the early part of the season for me, he showed it to me last night. That’s a real good sign, a positive. He’s another player who gives us an ability to score, which he did last night. Overall, I was very excited about what I saw in his effort.

“I think (the third line) works. There’s good work on that line. They seem to feed off each other. There were quite a few opportunities, through smart play and composure, entering the offensive zone, making plays. They had some scoring opportunities. Pens is starting to wonder what he has to do to score, but I think if he continues to bring that kind of a look that he did last night, with the work, the end result is, he will find a way to get the scoring going. … He’s getting some opportunities, some looks, but the puck is not going in the back of the net right now. To me, and I’ve said this in the past about him, bring the hard work, bring the intensity — like he showed last night, when I liked all his shifts — and the opportunities will present themselves. And he’s got the skill and the ability to finish.’’