Glen Murray Plays Catch-Up

The question is about pace, and King winger Glen Murray wants his to be centered on next Friday.

“I want to peak at the beginning of the season,” he said.

But Coach Andy Murray doesn’t understand that concept, and he has prodded Murray for much of training camp.

“He wants me to be at the top of my game right away,” Murray said. “I definitely need to pick it up.”

In an effort to facilitate that, Murray moved Luc Robitaille off the Bryan Smolinski-Glen Murray line for Saturday night’s 5-4 loss to Colorado at Las Vegas, the Kings’ final exhibition. Speedy Craig Johnson was moved in with them, and Robitaille skated with rookie center Eric Belanger, who has impressed throughout training camp and could open the season between Robitaille and Ziggy Palffy, if Jozef Stumpel doesn’t sign a contract.

Glen Murray, who had only one goal entering Saturday’s game, is a concern, in part because he was shut out in the playoffs.

“He’s a key element for this team,” the coach said. “We need him to perform on an every-night basis.”

Murray understands. “I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in,” he said. “I had an awful playoff and I’ve got to make up for it.”