Jake Muzzin Has Returned to the Los Angeles Kings Lineup

Jake Muzzin has returned.

The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-0 on Thursday, October 23rd.  Much of the postgame conversation was about Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick getting his 33rd career shutout, passing Rogie Vachon as the Kings all-time leader.  The Kings also picked up another victory putting them on a five game winning streak.  The powerplay is working again, going 3-for-5 in the last two games, bringing the Kings up to 19th in the NHL with 17.4% on the powerplay conversion.

One of the minor notes of the game, that has a major impact for the Kings, was Jake Muzzin’s return to the team for his first game in the lineup this season.

Muzzin had been battling an undisclosed upper-body injury incurred during the preseason.  Muzzin was slowly making progress, skating with the team in practice last week, and finally made his return on Thursday.

After the morning skate Muzzin said about getting back to the game, “Just, you know, get into the game early, get a hit, take a hit, something like that.  You know, I’ve been trying to stay into the games watching just keeping my mind into the game, but it will be the first couple of shifts just to get into it early.”

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Muzzin got right back into his regular shift, playing along side defensive partner Drew Doughty.  Muzzin recorded 20:20 of ice time, the second most on the Kings – only defensive partner Drew Doughty had more with 26:19.  Muzzin contributed 2:07 minutes on the power-play, and 1:50 on the penalty-kill.  Muzzin got one shot, one hit, and one shot-block added to his game statistics.

In the wake of Slava Voynov’s suspension from the NHL and Kings activities, Muzzin’s return is more important than ever.

When Muzzin was injured the Kings had been dressing defensemen Brayden McNabb in his place.  The first seven games of the season have been McNabb’s first games in a Kings uniform, as he played the full season with the Manchester Monarchs last year.  McNabb will now be a regular started for the Kings, until the Voynov situation gets sorted out.

Muzzin’s return means the Kings will have another one of their regular starters back in the lineup.  After the loss of Willie Mitchell to free agency this summer, and now Voynov’s suspension the Kings defense looks thinner than it has in the past few seasons.

During the playoffs in 2013-2014, and to start this season the Kings have played a more offensively focused game.  Part of this strategy is that more of the talent is now on the front end of the Kings roster.

Oct 23, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Cody McCormick (8) checks Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin (6) into the boards during the third period action at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Jun 13, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin (6) skates with the puck against the New York Rangers during the third period in game five of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Muzzin is an offenseive asset.  With a booming shot from the point and good puck moving abilities Muzzin helps the team stretch the game up-ice.  Muzzin’s attributes bring a boost to power-play productivity, while giving some of the younger and older players like McNabb and Robyn Regehr, more time to rest between shifts.

Slava Voynov was a power-play defensemen for the Kings.  Voynov was known for shots he would generate from the point, and his puck-moving abilities.  Muzzin can step in and help ease the loss of Voynov, the Kings veteran defender.

In the game with Buffalo Muzzin looked solid, back to his old ways.  It’s good news for the Kings to have him back.  Muzzin will eat up first-line minutes playing against the top-lines of opposing teams, and lightening the load on the rest of the defensive core.  The Kings have six defensemen back in the lineup, so there is no longer a need to call up a defensemen from Manchester to suit up a full squad.