Dud: Andrei Kuzmenko, W
The Kings couldn't sustain offensive pressure in the zone against the Senators' defensive group on the blue line yesterday. In the game's first two periods, the Kings had nearly a dozen scoring chances generated by the top-six forward lines, including forwards Andrei Kuzmenko and center Anze Kopitar.
Yesterday was a good chance for Kuzmenko to show what he can do to impact the special teams on the power play for the Kings. But the Kings went 1-for-3 on the power play on special teams vs. Ottawa last night.
Kuzmenko played a season-low 15 shifts and just over 13 minutes on the ice at home for the Kings early this regular season vs. Ottawa in the win yesterday.
"When it’s pressing hard on me, I love it, I love this moment. I understand it and I love it. It’s pressing in every game I go on the ice, I understand I need a goal, let’s go, keep going. Sometimes, games we have are good, sometimes not good, but we need more goals from everyone in this building. This is my work, the goals."Andrei Kuzmenko
If the Kings really want to find a spark scoring the puck around the net this regular season, Kuzmenko and Perry need to step up and help get the puck in the net and provide a boost on the scoreboard for the team in the offensive zone.
Since Kuzmenko returned to the lineup with the top-nine forward lines for the Kings this past week in the six-game road trip against the San Jose Sharks, he's registered zero points, three defensive and neutral zone turnovers, and a negative plus/minus.