Schneider Downplays Absence From Practice

King defenseman Mathieu Schneider said Wednesday he was not injured and downplayed suspicions a groin injury kept him out of the team’s practice Tuesday. Schneider played Wednesday in the Kings’ 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at Staples Center and looked fine.

Schneider missed eight games because of a groin strain in late February and early March. When he didn’t practice Tuesday, King Coach Andy Murray said Schneider had merely opted to rest but later said Schneider was the victim of wear and tear.

“I’m not hurt. I feel great,” Schneider said after the Kings’ morning skate Wednesday at HealthSouth training center in El Segundo. “Andy’s given me days off. He gives a lot of guys days off. This time of year, practice is way overrated, anyway. After training camp, practice is way overrated.”

Schneider, who gets considerable time on the point on the power play, said the Kings didn’t have to change their power-play strategy despite going 0 for 11 over the first three games. “It’s such a tight-checking game and those guys do a great job of forcing things,” Schneider said. “We have to do a real good job, but I thought we did a much better job in Game 3.

“They’ve got the second-best penalty killing in the league, so they’re tough to beat.”

Detroit defenseman Todd Gill said much of the Red Wings’ success is due to their assertiveness.

“We’ve got a pretty aggressive penalty kill and any time there’s a bobble, we jump on it,” he said. “You also have to be lucky enough to get some bounces.

“But we know they have a lot of talented guys on their power play and we can’t take them lightly.”

Murray said he has been frustrated by the special teams’ play. “Special teams are very important. They’re what I call coachable moments,” he said. “[But] it’s not the most important thing in the series. The most important thing on our part is our compete level every shift.

“The second thing you’d look at is your defensive play, and after that, you go to your special teams.”

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The Kings made a lineup change Wednesday after center Steve Kelly came down with flu. He was replaced by Scott Thomas, and Kelly Buchberger moved from the wing to center.

Murray also said the Kings were considering bringing up two players from Lowell (Mass.) of the American Hockey League after that team’s elimination from the AHL playoffs. Defenseman Andreas Lilja, who missed several weeks because of a shoulder injury but played well on his return, and either Brad Chartrand or Marko Tuomainen, both forwards, might be added to the Kings’ roster.

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The Kings will travel to Detroit today and practice in suburban Dearborn Friday. The Red Wings will practice in Troy. Joe Louis Arena is unavailable to both teams because of the Champions on Ice show Friday night.

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Murray said defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky, who suffered temporary nerve damage after he was slashed on the side of his left knee in the regular-season finale April 7 against the Calgary Flames, is back to full strength.

“I think he can play better,” Murray said of Visnovsky, who was sidelined for Game 1 and did not have his usual zip when he returned to the lineup for Game 2.

“I think he’s been pretty consistent all year. He has been in our top three defensemen all year. Actually, saying he’s been in the top three might not be giving him enough credit.”