Jokinen Learns to Take Shots

He’s learning, and it’s beginning to show.

Olli Jokinen came to the Kings like so many European centers, figuring hockey was art, a portrait in playmaking: Send the puck to somebody who can put it in the net.

It’s what he tried to do, neglecting an idea that he might get the puck back because he’s the one who should be shooting.

“It’s a different game here,” he said. “Here it’s all right to shoot. Before, I thought you should pass more. In Europe, we passed more.”

If you’re Wayne Gretzky, maybe you pass more. If you’re Jokinen, a 20-year-old rookie, you shoot when you have a shot, pass when you don’t, which is why he had the game-winning goal a week ago in overtime at Boston, and why he scored again Saturday at Nashville.

And why he had two shots Monday at Colorado.

Jokinen has nine goals and eight assists.

“I’m not so happy with my points,” he said. “Maybe if we win more, I have more points.”