Kings coach Darryl Sutter talks about the growth of defenseman Slava Voynov

Kings coach Darryl Sutter was hired at midseason last season and inherited a talented but underachieving team. Among the players on the roster he didn’t know much about was a young Russian defenseman named Slava Voynov. Sutter talked Wednesday about Voynov’s progress from then until now.

“I guess what I remember most was he wasn’t playing much if he was here,” Sutter recalled. “It was a big adjustment for him. There definitely was a language barrier. Whether he was uncomfortable with not wanting to converse, whatever it was. That’s an issue.

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Best defender in the playoffs is often a great goaltender

Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner as MVP of the 2012 playoffs, stopped all 30 shots in Saturday’s series-saving 1-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues and 93 of 97 overall for a .959 save percentage. Blues goalie Brian Elliott made 20 saves in Game 3 and has stopped 76 of 79 shots for a .962 save percentage. Elliott and the Blues lead the best-of-7 series two games to one.

In addition, Quick has a 2.05 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage in 35 career playoff games. He has a 2.32 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage in 286 regular-season appearances. So, he’s clearly better in the postseason, when the game are more meaningful. Need further proof? Last spring, he had a 1.41 goals-against average and a .946 save percentage during the playoffs.

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Kings’ Darryl Sutter explains decision to dress seven D-men in Game 3

Given the Kings’ offensive struggles, Darryl Sutter raised a few eyebrows by dressing seven defensemen, instead of the usual six, for Game 3. He offered an explanation Sunday for adding Alec Martinez to the defense corps for Saturday’s game.

“Fourth line hasn’t been playing much and our fourth-line right wing has played hardly at all,” Sutter said, referring to Jordan Nolan. “So, I thought I’d give Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown and Justin Williams a couple of more minutes. It gets us away from matchups. It worked (Saturday) night. Gives us more energy.”

Plus, by playing Martinez for the first time since April 2 against the Phoenix Coyotes, Sutter kept penalty-killing specialist Keaton Ellerby in the lineup. Ellerby helped the Kings to deny the Blues on four power play chances during Game 3.

“It gives our defense some energy, and obviously Keaton, you take Keaton out and you’re losing a guy who’s a really good penalty killer for us, and we didn’t want to do that,” Sutter added when asked about adding a seventh defenseman

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Darryl Sutter: shorthanded Kings need more production from the left side

The Kings won’t have team captain Dustin Brown when they face the San Jose Sharks in the regular-season finale Saturday night at Staples Center. Brown will serve the second game of a two-game suspension from the NHL for elbowing Jason Pominville of the Minnesota Wild during the Kings’ loss Tuesday. Brown is eligible to return for Game 1 of the playoffs next week. Until then, the Kings will be shorthanded.

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Kings’ Anze Kopitar playing pretty well for a guy in a goal-scoring drought

Anze Kopitar’s streak without a goal reached 13 games after the Kings’ 4-3 overtime victory Sunday over the Dallas Stars. He hasn’t scored since March 25 against the Chicago Blackhawks. It doesn’t mean he’s not productive, however. He had two assists Sunday against the Stars, giving him nine helpers in his last nine games. Overall, he has a team-leading 41 points (10 goals, 31 assists) in 44 games.

Not long after Sunday’s game ended, with reporters clustered around Kopitar and team captain Dustin Brown in the dressing room, a veteran reporter decided to have a little fun with both players. The exchange went a little something like this:

Reporter to Brown: “Now if you just get that Kopitar guy going …”

Kopitar: “I’m sitting right here.”

Reporter: “Why do you think I said it so loudly?”

When the laughter of the players and reporters died down, Kopitar said it was great to see Brown score two goals against Dallas, adding, “We need everybody going. It was nice to see him get a couple. Hopefully, I will get a couple soon, too.”

 

 

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Matt Greene suffers no setbacks after his return to the Kings’ lineup

After a day off after his first game since Jan. 19, Kings defenseman Matt Greene reported no setbacks following Saturday’s practice. Greene played a regular shift in Thursday’s victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, his first game after suffering a back injury that required surgery. Greene wasn’t all that impressed with his play Thursday, which impressed Kings coach Darryl Sutter on Saturday.

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Defenseman Matt Greene talks about his return to the Kings’ lineup

Kings defenseman Matt Greene had two shots on net and five hits in 22 shifts over 16 minutes, 15 seconds in his first game Thursday night after sitting out 42 following back surgery in January. He spoke after the Kings’ grind-it-out 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets about his return to the active roster.

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Veteran Matt Greene’s impending return and the Kings’ young defense corps

The Kings played almost all of the lockout-shortened season without veteran defensemen Matt Greene and Willie Mitchell. Greene could be back soon after undergoing back surgery after playing one game. Mitchell is out for the duration after undergoing two knee surgeries. Their absence created a void and young players Keaton Ellerby and Jake Muzzin filled in capably, giving the Kings the sort of boost they needed to stay competitive.

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A new wing for Kings rookie Tyler Toffoli?

Kings rookie right wing Tyler Toffoli figures to be a healthy scratch down the stretch and into the playoffs. It’s also possible but perhaps unlikely he’ll be returned to Manchester (N.H.) of the American Hockey League. The Kings plan to work with Toffoli to expand his versatility. He’s a right wing playing on a team that’s overloaded with standouts at that position. The Kings are strong at center, too, which means he would be wise to learn to play the left wing, according to coach Darryl Sutter.

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Darryl Sutter’s quote of the night (Mike Richards edition)

Mike Richards scored the go-ahead goal in the Kings’ 2-1 victory over the Ducks on Saturday night, a flawless laser that eluded goaltender Viktor Fasth for a power-play strike late in the second period. It hardly surprised Kings coach Darryl Sutter, who has seen what Richards can do when the games get more meaningful at this time of the season.

“Well, I think he has gotten stronger for sure,” Sutter said of Richards’ play of late. “And, as is typical with Mike, the bigger it gets, the better he plays. I think it’s on record that he had a tough start and he’s certainly played well lately. We need those centermen to complement each other, that was one of the real strengths of our team last year.”

 

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