• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorsManor.com

NHL blog, LA Kings hockey news and interviews from The Mayor

  • Radio Replay
  • Prospect Rankings
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / comments / From high in the sky, Murray and Penner like what they see

From high in the sky, Murray and Penner like what they see

November 1, 2011 By John Hoven

Left wing Dustin Penner (photo: M. Zampelli)

Dustin Penner entered the season penciled in on the left side of the Kings’ top unit. More recently though, he’s been playing on the third line.

Although he’s yet to produce a goal – and regardless of how or why he ended up two lines lower – coach Terry Murray likes what he’s been seeing.

So, when Simon Gagne returns to action on Thursday night vs. the Edmonton Oilers, he’ll be playing with Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams. Penner will skate with Jarret Stoll and Brad Richardson.

After practice today, Murray explained why he wants Penner there …

“I don’t know if it was the fact that he started to play with Stoll and Richardson or exactly what it was. But, there seemed to be a little more work involved on his part of the game. I think there was more movement in the offensive zone, using his size. I like the way he got involved in the physical part of the game, in several of those looks in the offensive zone in the past couple of games. But, I still feel that he is sometimes looking for the perfect play to shoot the puck – get back to that movement, get back to cycling, get back to reading off each other with a little better spacing in the offensive zone. When you work at that part of it, I think the offensive part falls in place much easier.”

Murray then shared a little bit from a conversation he recently had with Penner…

“His overall effort is good. His work is good. He started to show me that when I put him with Stoll and Richardson. So, I just said, ‘Hey, I like it.’ And he liked it. I talked to him on the plane, on the flight to Dallas. We reviewed all of his shifts from the previous game (vs New Jersey). When you put it under the microscope and watch the first period, when he was with Kopi and then the second and third period, when he was with Stoll, there was a lot of offensive zone time. In fact, every shift that he was on the ice with Stoll and Richardson in the second and third periods, it was in the offensive zone. So, when we watched it, clearly that jumps out at you. He said, ‘Yeah, that looks pretty good. It felt good too.’ That’s why I’m going to leave him (there). Keep bringing that work ethic to the game, most importantly.”

What all of this also means is that Scott Parse will remain on the second line with Mike Richards and Dustin Brown.

Later today, we’ll post some comments from Parse and Murray about #21’s improved play of late.

In the meantime, be sure to vote – who do you think should be the LA Kings Player of the Month for October? (linked here) – and/or check out some of the related articles below.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor

RELATED ARTICLES:

Murray wouldn’t mind seeing less from Doughty – more post practice comments

Matt Greene calls out Penner and Moreau

Dustin Brown not buying he lacks chemistry with Kopitar 

Dustin Penner explains his injuries in detail

Matt Greene pulls no punches on Penner’s conditioning

Welcome to the Dustin Penner comedy hour

Shop MMAOverload.com Today!

Filed Under: comments, hockey, Interview, Kings, Los Angeles, Mayor, MayorsManor, Murray, NHL Tagged With: coach, comments, hockey, Kopitar, Los Angeles, Mayor, MayorsManor, Murray, Penner, quote, Richardson, Stoll

About John Hoven

John Hoven is a former member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and co-hosts Kings of the Podcast. He's also the founder and editor of MayorsManor.com, which has been named Best Sports Blog in Los Angeles and Hockey Blog of the Year. Click "ABOUT OUR TEAM" below for a full bio.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Otto C says

    November 1, 2011 at 4:29 pm

Primary Sidebar

Kings Of The Podcast

Kings Of The Podcast: Ep. 147 with Jordan Spence

Kings Of The Podcast returns for another all-new episode, and this time around John Hoven and Dennis Bernstein are joined by LA prospect Jordan Spence. Some of the topics covered in this hour-plus KOTP edition include: — Mark Yannetti and the NHL Draft — Being born in Australia and relocating to Japan, then Canada — […]

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Ontario Reign Projected Lineup vs. Tucson Roadrunners; Several LA Prospects Returning To Action
  • Kings Of The Podcast: Ep. 148 – Live from NHL All Star Weekend in Florida
  • Rapid Review: Notes and Highlights from Kings Latest Stormy Loss in Carolina
  • Reign Recap: Four Goal First Period Powers Ontario to Victory Over Colorado
  • Projected Lineups – LA at Carolina; Kings Blow Into Town With History Against Them
  • Ontario Reign Projected Lineup vs. Colorado Eagles; It’s a 3-2 Season Series
  • Reign Recap: Ontario Falls Short Against Calgary 4-1
  • Ontario Reign Projected Lineup vs. Calgary; Time to Wrangle Up Another W
  • Rapid Review: Notes and Highlights from Kings 5-2 Loss in Tampa Bay
  • Reign Recap: Ontario Tops San Diego 7-2, Four Players Record Multi-Point Nights

Tweets by mayorNHL

Footer

Archives

Tags

AHL Blackhawks Brown camp Carter Clifford coach comments Doughty draft Ducks history hockey interview Kings Kopitar lineup Lombardi Los Angeles Manchester Mayor MayorsManor Monarchs Murray NHL Ontario Penner Playoffs Prospect Quick quote Radio Reign Richards roster Sharks Stanley Cup Stoll Sutter Toffoli trade video WCB West Coast Bias Williams

MayorsManor

  • About Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Store

© 2023 MayorsManor.com