Not giving up much

Much has been made, and rightfully so, of the Kings’ 5-on-5 scoring, but perhaps just as important is to look at the 5-on-5 scoring differential, not just the goals scored. So while the Kings have scored only eight 5-on-5 goals in four games, they also are second in the NHL in 5-on-5 goal differential, with a ratio of 2.33. Of course, that points to strong defense and goaltending, given that the Kings have only allowed three 5-on-5 goals in four games. Terry Murray was asked today about his defense’s contribution to that statistic…

MURRAY: “Five on five, I think we’re really doing a good job of taking away space, taking away time on good players. If you get a little off your man, they’re going to make good plays. Overall, our read, our closing quickly on players, taking away that space, taking away their opportunity to make plays has been very good. The rotation down low by our defensemen in that two-on-two, three-on-three coverage, the switches and reads, has been aggressive. That’s the way it has to be. In order to be a real good checking hockey club, those reads have to be instinctive and you have to react the way we have been.”