By Matt McHale Staff Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- So it was Jaroslav Bednar's fault after all. Just hours after Bednar, the slumping rookie winger, was assigned to Manchester (N.H.) of the American Hockey League, the Kings crushed the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-1 at Nationwide Arena.
Bednar, the club's third pick in last June's draft, did not have a point in his first seven games with the Kings. He missed a pair of scoring chances Saturday in Detroit, but it was his overall play that forced coach Andy Murray to make a move.
"I think right now he is only thinking of goals and that is putting a lot of pressure on him," Murray said of Bednar. "We want him to play a more well-rounded game. We think the goals will come."
Bednar's problems were compounded by playing with a slumping first line. But Tuesday night, Ziggy Palffy, who had no goals in the last four games, scored twice and added an assist. Jozef Stumpel, with just one goal in eight games, had three assists.
Bednar, 24, played last season in Finland and caught the Kings' attention by scoring 32 goals. He started slowly in training camp, finding it difficult to play in Murray's defense-first system. But when he scored three goals during the exhibition season, the club was excited.
At first, Bednar played sparingly on the fourth line. But when the club scored just 14 goals in its first six games and lost five games by one goal, the lines were juggled.
The Kings finally broke out of their slump, but it was too late for Bednar.
"He left before I woke up, so I didn't have a chance to talk to him," Palffy said. "I'll call him tomorrow. He has stuff in (Lubomir Visnovsky's) garage and we have to figure out what to do.
"The biggest thing was he was feeling the pressure. A lot of European players feel the pressure to score goals over here. When they don't come at first, it gets pretty frustrating. I know. It's been that way for me this year."
Changes: Bednar might have had a better fate if the Kings weren't thin on defense. Eric Belanger was doubtful with back spasms but was cleared to play before at the morning workout. If Belanger had been unable to play, Bednar would have stayed.
Mattias Norstrom returned to action after missing three games with torn rib cartilage but was watched closely. He was rested in the third period after the Kings built a 7-1 lead.
"We sat a few guys out at the end, like Matty, Ziggy and Stumpy," Murray said. "Matty said he felt great and that is a good sign."
Quick whistles: Adam Deadmarsh's goal at the 11:35 mark of the first period marked his 300th career point. He is the first Kings player to record four points in one period since Rob Blake (second period) on Jan. 29, 1998. Deadmarsh also was the first King to record five points in a game since Blake on Dec. 14 vs. the New York Rangers.