The morning after: Dustin Brown (strained glute) misses Kings’ practice; changes discussed on defense

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Kings captain Dustin Brown was missing from the strenuous practice today that followed the team’s awful opening-night performance, a 6-3 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes.

Brown has a strained gluteus, according to Coach Terry Murray, and was given a day off the ice. It’s not considered a long-term problem.

‘Hopefully he’ll be on the ice tomorrow,’ Murray said. ‘I just checked with the trainer ... and he said it’s just that and rest today for therapy.’

Peter Harrold took Brown’s place on a line with Teddy Purcell and Jarret Stoll, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in the lineup -- back on defense -- against San Jose on Tuesday at Staples Center. Alec Martinez, making his NHL debut while Sean O’Donnell served the fourth game of his five-game suspension, had a deer-in-the-headlights look most of the night. Murray switched up his defense pairings during the game and did the same at practice today, at times pairing Matt Greene with Martinez or Greene with Davis Drewiske.

‘I didn’t like what was happening with our tandem play, with our puck support, with passes that were bobbled and kind of end up being soft plays coming back at us,’ Murray said. ‘Sometimes a change is good. That’s something we need to talk about this afternoon as a staff. It’s got to get better.’

More later at www.latimes.com/sports.

-- Helene Elliott