Kings' Brad Richardson will get his chance against his former team
KINGS FYI
Richardson hasn't played in the last three games, but he'll be in the lineup Monday when the Kings play host to Colorado, which traded him to L.A. in June.
Most coaches don't change their lineup after a victory, but Terry Murray plans to have Brad Richardson center the Kings' fourth line against Colorado Monday instead of Brian Boyle.
Murray said he's hoping Richardson's speed and penalty-killing skills will give the team a boost -- and that Richardson will be especially motivated against the team that traded him to the Kings in June for a second-round draft pick.
Richardson played 10 minutes, 46 seconds in the Kings' season-opening loss at San Jose and was scratched from the next three games, the last two of them comeback victories. Boyle played an average of 7 minutes, eight seconds in three games, recording no points and compiling a minus-4 plus/minus rating.
Murray tried Richardson at left wing during training camp but will move him back to center, between Raitis Ivanans and Derek Armstrong.
"He's been out for a while. It's his old team. Maybe that adds a little bit to it," Murray said today after the Kings practiced at El Segundo.
"Also, I need a little bit better play from other people in a couple situations in that role. So there's a change for that reason also."
Murray said he wants Richardson to use his speed and "play smart, get the puck in deep, know who he's working with. And on the penalty killing side of things he's pretty good at using his speed, so there's a dual role in him."
Richardson, 23, scored 19 goals and 40 points for Colorado in 136 games over three seasons.
"I'm looking forward to it. I'm getting anxious. I'm getting sick of skating after practice," he said. "So hopefully I'll get back in there and have some fun."
Playing Colorado, he said, "adds a little extra incentive. I was there for three years. So it will be nice to be out there and play against those guys. I want to beat them pretty bad. Just getting back in the lineup feels good. I can't wait."
Murray also said defenseman Kyle Quincey, who made his Kings debut in Friday's 4-3 overtime victory over Carolina and assisted on Anze Kopitar's tying goal, will remain in the lineup.
"I liked a lot of the stuff that he did," Murray said.
Quincey, claimed on waivers from Detroit after Jack Johnson suffered a shoulder injury, said he hasn't had any problems adjusting to his new surroundings even though he moved from the defending Stanley Cup champions to a team that finished 29th in the NHL last season.
