Kings reconfigure the lines to coax more scores
KINGS-DUCKS FYI
Coach Terry Murray moves Patrick O'Sullivan to the top line with Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown.
The Kings have been shut out four times in 17 games and have scored only 17 goals in their last nine games.
You don't need a degree in Hockey 101 to know what that means: new lines.
After Sunday's 2-0 loss to the Ducks, Kings Coach Terry Murray moved Patrick O'Sullivan onto the Kings' top line with Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. The three played together much of last season but spent only part of one game together this season.
"We're looking for some offense," Murray said. "When we broke training camp, I felt we would have some scoring on a pretty consistent basis. I came out of that game [Sunday] thinking we had some good opportunities and came up short.
"I'm going to try to get Sully going individually and, hopefully, add something to that line to get them results."
The Kings average 2.47 goals per game. Only five NHL teams average less. The Kings were shut out only six times last season.
Replacing Kyle Calder with O'Sullivan on the first line will result in subtle changes.
"Obviously there is a little more speed," Brown said. "Sully brings more of a scoring presence. Calds was more of a playmaker. There are things Calds did that you'd come to expect, the way he gets in there and gets the puck. They just play different games."
And that can alter how Brown plays.
"I know Sully gets in on the forecheck, so I may jump a guy quicker," Brown said.
O'Sullivan, who scored 22 goals last season, has three in 15 games while being shuttled from one line to the next. He was skating with Brian Boyle and Peter Harrold in recent games.
"I've always been able to adjust and play with different guys, which I guess is why I get moved around," O'Sullivan said. "This is a little easier because we played together quite a bit last season. Each of us brings something different, which is why the line had success last season."
In other shake-ups, John Zeiler, just back from a conditioning stint with minor league Manchester (N.H.), will start against Washington on Thursday. Harrold will move back to defense.
Hedican sees red (light)
Ducks defenseman Bret Hedican had gone 67 games without a goal when he fired a puck on net that beat Kings goaltender Erik Ersberg on Sunday.
"To tell you the truth, I don't remember the last one," Hedican said after the game.
That was on Oct. 24, 2007, against Buffalo.
