Tag Archives: Anze Kopitar

Game report: Kings 2, Flames 1

Posted on by
Reply

Key play: Anze Kopitar tapped a deflected shot-pass from teammate Drew Doughty into an open net for the go-ahead power-play goal late in the second period to propel the Kings to a 2-1 victory Tuesday over the Calgary Flames at Staples Center.

Pivotal performer: Calgary goaltender Joni Ortio made his first start for the Flames since Oct. 30 against the Montreal Canadiens. Ortio kept the Flames within striking distance by making 13 saves during a scoreless first period. He spent most of the season with the Stockton Heat of the AHL.

Quote, unquote: “We didn’t play our best game, but at this time of the year it doesn’t really matter as long as you get the two points,” Kopitar said. “We certainly realize there’s room for improvement. … We’ve got to continue building momentum at home and take care of business.”

Lineup changes: Left wing Michael Mersch was the odd-man out of the Kings’ lineup with the return of Kopitar to fitness after Kopitar sat out a 2-1 overtime loss Saturday to the Nashville Predators because of a lower-body injury.

Legends night: The Kings honored Mike Donnelly as part of their Legends Night series. Donnelly played with Tony Granato and Corey Millen on the “All-American Line” and was a member of the Kings team that advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993.

With Anze Kopitar hurting, LA Kings recall forward Michael Mersch from the Ontario Reign of the AHL

Posted on by
Reply

The Kings recalled forward Michael Mersch from the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League in advance of Saturday’s game against the Nashville Predators. The Kings were already without winger Marian Gaborik, who could be sidelined for the rest of the regular season because of a knee injury, but then center Anze Kopitar was forced from a 2-1 overtime loss Thursday to the St. Louis Blues because of a lower-body injury. Kopitar played only in the first period.

Kopitar’s status was termed day to day, but Saturday isn’t expected to be his day.

The 23-year-old Mersch had one goal and three points in 15 games with the Kings earlier this season..He also had 19 goals and 28 points in 34 games with the Reign before he was recalled. He led the team in goals and was 10th in the league. He also had a plus-6 defensive rating and 22 penalty minutes.

LA Kings center Anze Kopitar forced from OT loss to Blues with lower-body injury, status is day to day

Posted on by
Reply

UPDATE: Reports indicate Kings center Anze Kopitar’s status is day to day.

The Kings don’t like to talk about injuries. Ever. But it was difficult to ignore the fact that Kopitar didn’t play after the first period of what turned out to be a 2-1 overtime loss Thursday to the Blues in St. Louis. Kings coach Darryl Sutter told reporters in St. Louis who asked if there was a postgame update on the team’s leading scorer, “No. It doesn’t come, injuries, from the head coach.”

Kopitar was unavailable for immediate comment and it was unclear when he was hurt.

So, it wasn’t immediately certain whether Kopitar could play Saturday against the Predators in Nashville, the final stop on a seven-game trip, the Kings’ longest of the season. Kopitar played only nine shifts and a total of 5:12 in the first period before departing the game. A team spokesman told reporters that Kopitar suffered a lower-body injury and was “questionable” to return to the game.

Kopitar leads the Kings with 51 points (17 goals, 34 assists) in 57 games.

Video: LA Kings coach Darryl Sutter and center Anze Kopitar offer best wishes to broadcaster Bob Miller

Posted on by
Reply

Check out what Kings coach Darryl Sutter had to say (via colleague Abbey Mastracco) about broadcaster Bob Miller, who will take a leave of absence to undergo heart bypass surgery. There’s a more serious comment near the end from center Anze Kopitar.

Video: LA Kings rewind makes its return after a 4-3 come-from-ahead loss to the Avalanche

Posted on by
Reply

Check out the latest report from Los Angeles News Group colleague Abbey Mastracco, who breaks down the Kings’ breakdowns in a 4-3 loss Wednesday to the Colorado Avalanche and looks ahead to play after this weekend’s All-Star break.

Game report: Kings 3, Stars 2

Posted on by
Reply

Key play: Milan Lucic drifted into the slot, accepted a centering pass from Anze Kopitar and scored the tiebreaking goal 6:17 into the third period and the Kings went on to a 3-2 victory Tuesday over the Dallas Stars at Staples Center. Jake Muzzin had the second assist on Lucic’s 12th goal of the season.

Pivotal performer: Kings center Vincent Lecavalier scored his third power-play goal in as many games. Lecavalier has three goals in six games since the Kings acquired him and defenseman Luke Schenn from the Philadelphia Flyers for forward Jordan Weal and a third-round draft pick.

Quote, unquote: “The standings show we’re playing better than them, but there’s so much that can happen,” Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said of the team’s lead over the rest of the Pacific Division, which grew to 12 points. “There are almost 40 points left. … You can never be comfortable. All those other guys, all those teams are going to want to catch us and they’ll do whatever it takes.”

Line shifts: Kings coach Darryl Sutter shifted center Jeff Carter to right wing for Tuesday’s game against the Stars. It fueled speculation was suffering from an unspecified upper-body injury and would enable him to avoid taking faceoffs, which could cause him pain.

Breakaway move: Stars defenseman John Klingberg skated ahead of the pack on a second-period breakaway, but was denied on a vintage Peter Forsberg-like move by Kings goalie Jonathan Quick at the moment of truth. Klingberg faked Quick to the ice, but couldn’t slip the puck by him.

LA Kings center Anze Kopitar named the NHL’s third star of the week

Posted on by
Reply

Anze Kopitar recorded two goals and seven points in three games last week for the Pacific Division-leading Kings and the NHL named him its third star of the week. Kopitar had a goal and an assist in the KIngs’ 3-2 victory Sunday over the Ducks at the Honda Center. He leads the Kings with 38 points, including a team-best 25 assists. He signed an eight-season, $80-million contract extension last week, which could mean he plays 18 seasons with the Kings by the time in runs out in 2024.

Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks was the first star of the week and Sam Bennett of the Calgary Flames was the second star.

Check back later for reaction after the Kings’ practice.

Game report: Kings 3, Ducks 2

Posted on by
Reply

Key play: Anze Kopitar scored on a deflection to give the Kings a two-goal lead in the third period en route to a 3-2 Freeway Series victory over the Ducks on Sunday at the Honda Center. Kopitar tipped Brayden McNabb’s perimeter shot into the net at 17:40 of the final period.

Pivotal performer: Andrew Cogliano scored what appeared to be the tying goal when a centering pass from Ryan Kesler deflected off his right skate and into the net. But a referee’s call on the ice washed out the goal and was confirmed by a video replay.

Quote, unquote: “I thought we took care of the puck a lot better tonight than we did last night,” Kopitar said, referring to a 5-3 loss Saturday to the Ottawa Senators in which the Kings failed to hold a 3-1 third-period lead. “We knew they were going to come hard. With the skill set they have, they made some plays. If we weren’t up to the task back there … we got away with a ‘W’ tonight.”

Dropping the gloves: Patrick Maroon of the Ducks earned a decision against the Kings’ Brayden McNabb in a first-period bout. The Ducks’ Chris Stewart wrestled with the Kings’ Luke Schenn after Schenn objected to Stewart’s hard hit on Alec Martinez moments earlier.

Injury updates: Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen didn’t dress because of an upper-body injury. Anton Khudobin was recalled from San Diego to serve as John Gibson’s backup. Defenseman Clayton Stoner was played on injured reserve because of a hip flexor injury.

Roster move: Left wing David Perron made his Ducks debut after a late-night trade Friday from the Pittsburgh Penguins and scored a third-period goal. Perron skated on a line with center Ryan Kesler and right wing Jakob Silfverberg, which was Carl Hagelin’s spot before he was dealt to the Penguins.

Lineup shuffle: Kings coach Darryl Sutter scratched defenseman Christian Ehrhoff and forward Nick Shore. It was Shore’s double-minor for high sticking that led to the go-ahead goal Saturday in the Kings’ 5-3 loss to the Senators at Staples Center.

Kings center Anze Kopitar talks about signing his contract extension, admits it was a distraction earlier in the season

Posted on by
Reply

Here’s some of what Kings center Anze Kopitar said after his eight-season, $80-million contract extension was finalized Saturday:

“It’s obviously a great feeling knowing I’m going to be a part of this team for years to come now. It’s something I’ve expressed throughout the process that I’d like to stay here. It’s some sort of relief and a nice feeling.”

Asked if the protracted talks were a distraction, he said:

“Maybe early on because I was thinking about when it’s going to be done and how it’s going to be done. I just put it aside and hoping eventually it’s going to get resolved. It’s a business and sometimes things like that drag on a little bit longer than you’d like, but now it’s nice to have it finalized.”

Then there was this:

“For me, it’s not going to change my game, it’s not going to change my mindset. It’s the same way. It’s be the best you can be and help your team win. I didn’t really have any doubts. I didn’t know, but I was hoping it was going to get done. I was leaning toward getting it done than doubting it, so I never really thought that far. I liked it to have been done before the season so it would have been by me, but you realize it’s a business, it’s a process. When two parties collide like that it can go a little bit longer, just longer, I guess. This one went a bit longer. It’s done and I’m happy about it.”

Game report: Senators 5, Kings 3

Posted on by
Reply

Key play: Bobby Ryan set up Mika Zibanejad for the go-ahead power-play goal and the Ottawa Senators rallied from a pair of two-goal deficits to defeat the Kings 4-3 on Saturday at Staples Center. The Kings held leads of 2-0 in the second period and 3-1 in the third.

Pivotal performer: Kings forward Nick Shore drew a double-minor for high-sticking the Senators’ Shane Price in the face at 10:34 of the third period. The Kings killed off the first minor, but not the second as Zibanejad scored the go-ahead goal at 13:10.

Quote, unquote: “It’s something you can’t do against any team because when you make mistakes like that any team is going to make you pay,” Kings center Anze Kopitar said. “Very uncharacteristic of us. Two-goal lead, we blew that in a matter of minutes. That power-play goal they scored, that put them over the edge. We definitely can’t be as sloppy as we were tonight.

Milestone moment: Center Vincent Lecavalier scored his first goal since the Kings acquired him and defenseman Luke Schenn from the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 6. Lecavalier’s last goal was last April 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins while with the Flyers.

Penalty shot: Kings right wing Tyler Toffoli failed to convert after he drew a penalty shot against Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson on a partial breakaway try at 14:32 of the second period. Senators goaltender Craig Anderson sprawled to make the save, preserving a 2-1 score.