Murray Throws Changeup

Coach Andy Murray, playing the role of the Kings’ cobbler, broke apart and pieced together three of their four lines to try to inject energy into a team that had been stagnating in the Western Conference playoff chase.

For Monday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers, Murray broke up the Kings’ checking line by moving feisty forward Sean Avery to the second line with Jozef Stumpel and Anson Carter, who have struggled in recent weeks.

Murray moved Alexander Frolov to the checking line, alongside center Eric Belanger and right wing Ian Laperriere.

Esa Pirnes centered the fourth line with Jeff Cowan and Martin Straka beside him.

It was Murray’s latest effort to correct the Kings’ recent flaws.

“We want to be a good forechecking team, and we want to play with energy,” Murray said before the game. “We want to play with a lot of passion, and the fact the Oilers are playing with a lot of energy and passion and playing very well, we need to match that.”

The only line that went undisturbed was the top line of Luc Robitaille, Derek Armstrong and Trent Klatt.

“We’ve got to do something,” Laperriere said. “You don’t have much time to wait.”

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Goaltender Cristobal Huet started a second consecutive game, but Roman Cechmanek could make an appearance on the four-game trip that begins Wednesday in Vancouver.

“I believe that if we put Roman Cechmanek in net that he’ll get the job done for us,” Murray said. “Probably the place to do that, based on his last game at home, is to do it on the road.”

Cechmanek was booed during Thursday’s loss to the San Jose Sharks after allowing goals on the first two shots he faced. He was replaced by Huet after allowing four goals in the first two periods.

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Defenseman Joe Corvo, a healthy scratch in the last two games before Monday, played alongside Mattias Norstrom. Corvo replaced rookie Tim Gleason in the lineup.... Terry Gregson, who plans to retire after a 25-year career in the NHL, refereed a game in Los Angeles for the final time.