Sutter discusses defensive adjustments

Not that heavy stock should be placed in the team’s readjusted lines – more on that in today’s game preview – but the team’s defensive pairings at today’s morning skate seemed to follow many of the looks the Kings threw at San Jose in Wednesday’s game:

Muzzin – Doughty
Regehr – Voynov
Mitchell – Greene
Martinez

Muzzin spoke about playing with Doughty yesterday, while Doughty offered a positive review of their pairing during the preseason. The two did receive significant looks together last season, most significantly in between Doughty’s pairing with Keaton Ellerby in February and the arrival of Robyn Regehr in early April. It was not an uncommon sight to see Muzzin and Doughty together when the team was trailing late in games last season – which wasn’t a particularly frequent occurrence.

At Saturday’s morning skate, Darryl Sutter spoke of the recent defensive realignments:

SUTTER: “Well, we changed them up five-on-five. I mean, Mitchell and Greene play together killing penalties exclusively. Robyn and Slava have played together off and on, depending on how much ice time Drew’s getting. Muzzin we’re trying to get to assume a little bit more responsibility in his game, so if you play with Drew Doughty a little bit five-on-five, you should assume a little bit more responsibility. Whether that’s accomplished or not, we’ll find out.”

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