VIDEO: Roenick breaks down Doughty's hit on Oshie

Earlier today, the National Hockey League let it be known that Kings defenseman Drew Doughty will not be suspended for his hit on the Blues' TJ Oshie in the final seconds of last night's game.

As a first time offender, the $2,500 fine levied against him was pretty much as expected.

In the clip below, Jeremy Roenick and Pierre McGuire show they play and then discuss why it was such a dangerous hit.

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

To see more video of the incident, here's the VERSUS feed in full (link).

For more from Roenick, here's his MayorsManor interview last season, where we preview the Kings-Coyotes game and here is his preview of Canada-USA at the World Junior Championship.

Yesterday, Doughty talked about not being sure what's wrong with him this season in an article posted here.

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Westgarth goes from 'stewing in his juices' into the line-up

Westgarth remains positive (photo: M. Zampelli)

By all accounts, Kevin Westgarth had a great summer. He married his longtime girlfriend and signed a two-year contract extension with the Kings.

Things haven't been so good since though.

Coming off a season where he played 56 games, roughly two-thirds of the regular season games, he's only seen action in six of the team's first 20 games.

"It's frustrating," said Westgarth, when asked about his role basically being cut in half so far. "It just gives me opportunity to work hard and just try to improve in practice and just be ready to roll when I get the call and to take advantage of opportunities that are given."

The time is now, as coach Terry Murray will insert him into the line-up as the fourth line right wing tonight in St. Louis. He's faced the Blues four times previously and has been credited with a total of eight hits in those games, second only to his stats against the Dallas Stars.

Westgarth has only one scrap in those four games, it came last March vs. the much smaller Cam Janssen - who had previously come on MayorsManor and talked about using videos on HockeyFights.com to scout Westgarth and Kyle Clifford. It didn't help much that night and Janssen has since moved on to New Jersey.

Last week, Westgarth would have normally been an automatic start in the Kings back-to-back games with the Anaheim Ducks - however, they're resident tough guy, George Parros, is out of the line-up recovering from eye surgery.

Still, Westgarth says he didn't like being on the sidelines for those games.

Doughty wishes he 'had an exact reason' for what's wrong

Drew Doughty - LA Kings (photo: M. Zampelli)

Two goals and five assists probably isn't what GM Dean Lombardi had in mind when he signed the Kings top defenseman to an eight-year, $56-million contract in September.

It was something acknowledged over the weekend, when coach Terry Murray spoke about Drew Doughty not giving the team what they need offensively so far this season. However, he wasn't sure why the points have been slow to come.

And time appears to be a concern, when looking at Murray's comment - "Now, we're 20 games in...it's important that we find the answer and get him going."

Just prior to the Kings leaving for St. Louis, I asked Doughty if maybe he could explain his lack of point production...

"I don't really have a reason for it," said the 21-year old defenseman. I feel like I'm creating chances. I hit the post last game. I'm getting chances, I'm getting shots on net. I feel like I'm making some good plays to set up other guys, as well. Sometimes, it's just about getting those bounces. I had those five points in three games and it just seemed like I was making a breakout pass or the guys were doing the job to get the puck in. So, it kinda goes in spurts. I wish it didn't. I wish I had an exact reason why I'm not getting more points. I know I'm definitely going to try and jump in the play a little more and help try to create some more offensive chances."

Again, back to the comments by Murray, he thought there was 'a little bit of the hangover there from missing all of the training camp.'

Does Doughty agree?

Alec Martinez talks injury recovery and Slava Voynov

Alec Martinez is slowly recover from injuries he sustained against the Minnesota Wild nearly 10 days ago. However, the 24-year old defenseman did leave LA with the team today, as they began a two-game road trip with a flight to St. Louis for tomorrow's game against the Blues.

Following practice today, he shared the following comments...

"I'm feeling better every day," said Martinez, when asked how things are coming along. "I know it's a cliche. But, it really is true. I've just been getting in here and doing my exercises, trying to strengthen the area. I've been getting on the ice for about four or five days now. So, the legs feel good. I just have to keep getting better."

Slava Voynov, who was recalled from Manchester to fill the spot opened up when Martinez was placed on IR, has been paired with Willie Mitchell (where he played last month in place of Drew Doughty).

"I'm happy for him," said Martinez, when asked what he thought about Voynov getting a 'higher' pairing, rather than just taking his role as the sixth defenseman.

"The coaches want to do whatever gives the team the best shot to win a game. If that's what they see fit, that's fine. I'm just focusing on getting better now and I'm happy for Slava. He's playing well and he's my buddy. Good for him and hopefully we can win a few more games."

Is there any estimate on when he might return to the line-up?

Mike Richards on his latest left wings - Stoll and Loktionov

Earlier today we heard from Kings coach Terry Murray and center Jarret Stoll about the line shuffling that took place during the third period on Saturday afternoon.

Now we check in with Mike Richards, who saw his left wings swapped out...

Richards on Andrei Loktionov - "He's a smart player. I think he's going to get better as he gets more comfortable. It's not an easy situation for him to come into - two division rival games and then against Detroit. So, I think time is going to be valuable for him, just to get his feet wet, more comfortable on the ice and then build his confidence. But, right now he's playing well, has a lot of good vision on the ice and works hard. So, hopefully he can just keep getting better."

Richards on the move that put Stoll on his left wing - "It's tough. Stollie and I are both centermen. So, I think we have a lot off of reading off of each other. Even though you're on the ice, you read off of each other anyway. It's just, you have set positions and in the third period you're just looking for offense and you're pushing a little bit more."

Still to come, notes from our talk with Loktionov following practice today.

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Stoll and Murray talk center vs left wing, possible changes

During his post game presser on Saturday, LA coach Terry Murray said he wouldn't be sticking with the third period line combinations he used against Detroit - which featured Andrei Loktionov as the third line center and moving Jarret Stoll to the second line left wing.

However, after practice today, he seemed to soften his stance just a bit...

On the thought of Loktionov at center - "I've thought about it a lot. Before we got him back up here, that was part of the thought process - where am I going to play him, is it going to be left wing? I felt good about him on the left side and I still do."

On where Loktionov will play versus St. Louis - "I'll leave that line the way it is (the second line), with him on the left side, for the game tomorrow. I know I have an option. I know I can make some moves there and he would be one of those players who I could move to a different position if I feel I need to."

On playing Stoll at center or left wing - "He prefers to be in the middle of the ice. But, sometimes you have to make those kind of changes and we'll see where this all goes. Loktionov might be fine on the left wing and we'll just leave him there. I don't want to put any doubt in anybody's head here, as to what I might do."

Mike Richards on the return of Sidney Crosby to the NHL

While a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, Mike Richards played the New Jersey Devils a total of 41 times, which was more than any other team in the league.

Just one game behind were the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Somebody else can look up how many of those 40 games featured Sidney Crosby - although it's safe to assume a lot of them, as they both came into the NHL the same year (2005-06).

Richards missed Crosby when the Penguins were in LA a few weeks ago, as the 24-year old captain was still on the shelf with concussion like symptoms.

As you've probably heard by now, Crosby returns tonight after a ten month layoff.

After practice today, Richards talked about what #87's return means...

"It's great for the league," said Richards. "It's like Kobe or LeBron being out for the NBA or kind of like Peyton Manning being out for the NFL. You want your best players on the ice, to not only build the game but to put on a showcase. He's obviously the best in the game, so it will be nice to have him back on the ice."

Several of the Penguins players appeared on MayorsManor earlier this month and shared some humorous thoughts on several of their teammates. For your convenience, those articles are linked below.

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What I've learned so far this season...by Kris Letang

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/What I've learned so far... by Mike Richards - includes a warning for Dustin Penner

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Coach Murray on shots - 'That's how you score you goals'

If you thought the Kings looked like a different team against Detroit than the group who played Anaheim and Minnesota in the previous three games, Murray would agree with you.

"That was the one thing that maybe disappointed me as much as anything in the game, is that we were not skating anywhere near the way we skated in the last three games."

He also shared some thoughts on what it's going to take to get some secondary scoring out of the Kings, as they can't only rely on Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards and Simon Gagne - the trio have accounted for roughly half of the team's total goal production.

"I'm encouraging the shots," said Murray. "We've been putting better numbers up at the end of the day - shot attempts, shots on net. When you watch a team like Detroit, they're the number one team in the NHL for shots on goal, average per game. They're at about 34.6 shots per game, on average. And you can see why they're a good hockey club. That's been their mentality throughout the last 15 years. That's how you score goals."

And win games apparently. Last season, five of the NHL's six division winners finished in the top seven for average shots taken per game.

Currently, the Kings are 19th in the league, averaging 29.3 shots on goal.

Given the lack of production coming from the blue line, are some of the Kings defenseman tentative to get shots off?

Murray on Doughty - 'It's important that we find the answer'

Last season, Drew Doughty scored one goal over the final 20 regular season games.

And he hasn't exactly lit up the scoreboard so far this year, recording only two goals through the first 20 games of the new campaign.

Just a few weeks ago, coach Terry Murray talked about being patient with his young defenseman, thinking perhaps he was pressing a bit after missing training camp.

Now, he's ready for more.

"I want him to get going," said Murray. "I want him to give us more on the back end. I think the pair, as they are today (Doughty and Jack Johnson), should be a pair that can really take on a lot of that responsibility - puck possession, creating opportunities for themselves and the line they're on the ice with. I just think there is still a little bit of the hangover there from missing all of the training camp. Now, we're 20 games in...it's important that we find the answer and get him going. (We need) him to start getting pucks through, keep it simple, don't push things - take a step back a little bit at times, getting the puck to a do a lot of the work for you. And I believe things will turn around with that."

Then again, in one of those weird statistical things that make you scratch your head - the Kings are 1-4 in games where Doughty has a point this season.

However, from January 1st through the end of last season, the Kings went 12-3 when Doughty recorded a point in a game. That's more like what you would expect.

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Loktionov to center, Stoll to wing - only temporary moves

Sunday was a day off for the Kings.

It also gave coach Terry Murray a chance to wash out the blender, dry it off and return it to the shelf from which he removed it on Saturday afternoon.

With the Kings struggling to generate offense against the Red Wings, he moved some of his players around - namely swapping Andrei Loktionov (who had been the second line left wing) with Jarret Stoll, the third line center.

However, when the team takes the ice for practice tomorrow morning, things will return to how they were prior to the third period of yesterday's 4-1 loss.

"You’re just trying to change things up, to get the offense going at that time," said Murray of the temporary changes. "We moved Loktionov to the middle, Stoll (to the wing) and Brad Richardson goes up - I'm looking for some speed to the puck, maybe, on the forecheck, to just give Kopi and Gags an opportunity to recover some pucks. Williams goes to Loktionov. I’m looking to try and find some balance in the scoring with that change. It’s not something I’m going to stay with. Lokti will go back to the left wing. I think he's played fine on the left side. But at that time, when it is 3-1, you’re trying to find something that's good."

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