Loktionov to center, Stoll to wing – only temporary moves

Sunday was a day off for the Kings.

It also gave coach Terry Murray a chance to wash out the blender, dry it off and return it to the shelf from which he removed it on Saturday afternoon.

With the Kings struggling to generate offense against the Red Wings, he moved some of his players around – namely swapping Andrei Loktionov (who had been the second line left wing) with Jarret Stoll, the third line center.

However, when the team takes the ice for practice tomorrow morning, things will return to how they were prior to the third period of yesterday’s 4-1 loss.

“You’re just trying to change things up, to get the offense going at that time,” said Murray of the temporary changes. “We moved Loktionov to the middle, Stoll (to the wing) and Brad Richardson goes up – I’m looking for some speed to the puck, maybe, on the forecheck, to just give Kopi and Gags an opportunity to recover some pucks. Williams goes to Loktionov. I’m looking to try and find some balance in the scoring with that change. It’s not something I’m going to stay with. Lokti will go back to the left wing. I think he’s played fine on the left side. But at that time, when it is 3-1, you’re trying to find something that’s good.”

The Mayor
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