Glen Murray Gets a Demotion

The message was clear to winger Glen Murray when he went to his stall in the dressing room Monday morning and found a gray sweater.

By the time Coach Andy Murray talked with him after practice, Glen Murray already knew.

It meant he was joining a line centered by Bob Corkum. The other wing was Kelly Buchberger.

“I haven’t been putting the puck in the net,” said Murray, “so I’ll grind it out and get a goal.”

Corkum and Buchberger have spent much of the season checking opponents’ top lines and have only five goals between them. Murray, who three seasons ago led the Kings with 29 goals and had 29 last season, has only nine.

“We’re trying to get Glen Murray to play a more physical style of game,” the coach said.

Murray acknowledged he hasn’t performed.

“I think it’s going to be good,” he said. “Those guys work their butts off.”

The move was one of several Andy Murray made. The reason is straight-forward.

“We’ve gone three games without a lot of offense,” he said, understating. The Kings have one goal in those three games, all losses.

Ian Laperriere, an energy-type player and physical presence, was moved to a line with Luc Robitaille and center Eric Belanger. Steve Reinprecht was moved to an energy line that includes wingers Stu Grimson and Nelson Emerson.

How long all of this lasts is open to conjecture. Andy Murray is reluctant to shuffle lines.

“We’ll probably go back to the other lines in two or three games,” he said.

vs. Dallas, 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KSPN (1110).

Records--Kings 22-20-7-1, Stars 28-17-4-1.

Record vs. Stars--2-1.

Update--Dallas lost to New Jersey with Marty Turco in goal and to San Jose with Eddie Belfour last week. Belfour figures to play tonight against the Kings, who have lost three games in a row and been outscored, 10-1, along the way.