Kings searching for success on power play

ST. LOUIS -- Lack of success on the power play is starting to become a significant concern for the Kings.

They were 0 for 5 on the man advantage in Game 1 against the Blues and have a 9.7% success rate on the power play through their first six games of the playoffs.

In the first round, Mike Richards and Willie Mitchell scored on the power play of Game 1 against Vancouver and Jarret Stoll had a power-play goal in Game 2 in Vancouver.

Since then? Nothing.

“We need to get our power play going,” Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said after Monday’s morning skate. “It’s been going for one game, in the Vancouver series, and other than that we really weren’t good on the power play. It’s such a key point.

“I know all of us on the power play units are frustrated with how it’s been going so far. We’ve made some strides in the last game, and now it’s just a matter of putting more pucks in the net.”

Three short-handed goals by the Kings helps heal some of those wounds, of course.

Doughty was still smiling about the short-handed goal from defenseman Matt Greene, who scored the game-winner on Saturday against the Blues.

“It’s a little rare when he even crosses the blue line,” Doughty said. “That’s what the playoffs is about, getting a little from every single guy on your team. And to see a guy like him score in the playoffs, all of us were so happy for him. And it just gave us that boost.”

Maybe it’s the start of something for Greene. He may join the rush again ... someday.

“I always told him he has the potential to do it,” Doughty said. “He’s got a hard shot, probably the hardest shot of all of our D on the back end. He’s done a lot better at it since I started playing with him my first year.

“He’s still got the potential to do more, offensively. Even though he enjoys being a defensive defenseman.”

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Photo: Kings vs. Blues, Game 1 of conference semifinals

Kings searching for success on power play