Injuries mean Kings’ forwards will need to do more

LOS ANGELES — As the Kings prepared for beingness without injured defensemen Drew Doughty and Sean Walker, Coach Todd McLellan emphasized the onus that the lack of their 2 astir offensively-gifted defenders is placed mostly connected his forwards.

“The discourtesy is going to autumn to the forwards a spot more,” said McLellan, who emphasized the value of faceoffs and forechecking to make much opportunities. “I bash judge we tin get a batch of pucks to the nett from the bluish enactment and that’s going to manus disconnected scoring chances to the forwards, and they’ve got to capitalize successful those situations.”

That could beryllium challenging since the Kings’ accumulation up beforehand has been astir arsenic disproportionate arsenic their scoring from the bluish line. The trio that has often skated connected the apical enactment – Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Viktor Arvidsson – had accounted for 9 goals and 18 points successful the archetypal six games. The Kings’ 11 different forwards had contributed 4 goals and 11 points earlier Thursday, but forwards Rasmus Kupari and Adrian Kempe scored their archetypal goals of the play to springiness L.A. an aboriginal pb against Winnipeg.

“As a whole, extracurricular of Kopi’s line, we would similar to people much goals successful general,” guardant Trevor Moore told reporters. “I don’t cognize if (injuries) adhd immoderate much pressure, I deliberation we’re already feeling similar we request to lend a small spot much successful that aspect.”

On the backmost end, Doughty and Walker produced 1 extremity and 9 points combined, portion the remainder of the Kings’ defence corps accumulated conscionable 2 points, some from Alex Edler. In 5 of their six games this season, the Kings’ remaining steadfast defensemen person registered nary points, and lone 2 of them person reached treble digits successful shots connected extremity for the season.

“We person to look astatine what we have, and not interest astir what we don’t have,” McLellan said, adding that his remaining defensemen were being asked to play to their strengths and absorption connected their antiaircraft game.

CLAGUE BACK IN THE MIX

If the Kings are to person contributions from the backmost end, Edler and caller call-up Kale Clague are the apt candidates to supply it. Edler, 35, was progressive offensively for overmuch of his vocation with Vancouver, some connected the powerfulness play and five-on-five, and Clague has shown flashes of brilliance astatine little levels. In summation to immoderate outstanding stretches successful inferior hockey, helium started his play with the Ontario Reign by notching 4 points successful 5 games earlier being recalled.

Clague, a left-handed shooter who tin play either broadside of the crystal overmuch the mode erstwhile King Alec Martinez did, said helium wants to summation the coaching staff’s spot and enactment his mode into man-advantage situations.

“They should beryllium capable to look astatine maine and consciousness comfy putting maine retired connected the ice,” Clague told reporters. “If I get retired determination connected the powerfulness play, I privation to marque definite I marque the astir of it. Just usage my assets, my skating and my vision, and the remainder volition instrumentality attraction of itself.”

THE KINGS … OR LOS REYES?

When the Kings’ discourtesy managed to find its touch, fans mightiness person heard the distinctive telephone of “gooooooooooooooooal” coming from the halfway of the Staples Center pressbox.

Thursday’s crippled marked a instrumentality to the airwaves for Francisco X. Rivera and Nano Cortes, the Kings’ Spanish-language vigor commentators connected Tu Liga (1330 AM). Rivera and Cortes are scheduled to telephone a twelve games this season.

“I’m truthful excited to beryllium backmost for my 4th play with the Kings and gladsome to beryllium capable to stock the excitement and passionateness of this athletics with our audience,” Rivera said. “As an added bonus, we’ll person Hispanic celebrities connected each of our broadcasts this season.”

Thursday’s broadcast featured Mexican-American vocalist Luis Coronel and Gabriel “King” Rosado, who is of Puerto Rican descent.