Kings’ Avenue to Success Is a Two-Way Street

The message was seen as addition through the subtraction of Ziggy Palffy and Jozef Stumpel from the lineup that lost to New Jersey, 6-1, to finish the Kings’ home stand.

It was reinforced Saturday morning before the Kings tied Pittsburgh, 2-2.

“There are three teams that have dominated our conference the last couple of years: Detroit, Dallas and Colorado,” said King Coach Andy Murray. “On those teams, their top guys are top guys every night at both ends of the ice.

The message was that Palffy and Stumpel weren’t Thursday night when they played only one shift in the third period of the debacle. That shift culminated in the Devils’ fifth goal.

“We need both of them to play better,” Murray said. “I think you can only have credibility as a coach if you are confident in your beliefs. Guys on the bench can see it, and how can I hold Bob Corkum and Bryan Smolinski accountable if I don’t hold [Palffy and Stumpel] accountable?”

That was the sermon delivered to the Kings in the locker room during the morning skate.

A few hours later, both scored power-play goals and Palffy also had an assist.

TONIGHT

at Boston, 4

Fox Sports Net

* Site--FleetCenter.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 11-7-5-0, Bruins 7-11-2-2.

* Record vs. Bruins--1-0.

* Update--The Bruins are 4-9-1 under new Coach Mike Keenan, who is dealing with a goalie, Byron Dafoe, who is playing and practicing only part time because of knee problems, and injuries to defenseman Kyle McLaren and Joe Thornton, who suffered a charley horse in Boston’s 3-1 loss to Carolina on Friday night.